IIORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBIJ RN E N SIS. 297 



scribe for them with more certainty than they can choose for 

 themselves. But here we must distinouish between what is 

 merely necessary and what is redundant. 



When ranging at large, however, in their pastures, we al- 

 ways see them linger upon the driest parts of the fields ; for 

 there the grass, if there be any bite at ail, is always not only 

 the sweetest, but also the most nutritious. There are pas- 

 tures in this kingdom, which in spring and autumn, or in 

 showery summers, yield herbage enough, but of the most in- 

 ferior quality for fattening stock ; whereas, at about Mid- 

 summer in every year, and in particularly dry seasons, the 

 grass, though short, is of the most nutritious description ; 

 every thing thrives upon it: and if the same be made into 

 hay, it is always richer, and more palatable to cattle than 

 that made from the lower and moister parts of the pasture. 



It is curious to observe the display of taste shown by a 

 stray horse or cow, which by accident gets into a rick-yard 

 where there are various kinds of hay, and other fodder in 

 ricks. A general examination is first made, and should 

 there be a small rick or part of a rick of vetch-hay got up 

 without rain, that is preferred to every thing else. If no- 

 thing of this kind invites, then sainfoin is the next selected ; 

 and if one layer of the rick be better than the rest, that 

 layer will be eaten as far as they can reach. Upland mea- 

 dow-hay, if quickly and well got up, and retaining its fine 

 green colour, is the next choice ; and afterwards, any other 

 sort of meadow-hay well made, and which has taken the ne- 

 cessary heat in the rick. The above are what kine and sheep 

 prefer ; horses are first attracted by the hay of vetches and 

 sainfoin, and next, the first crop of clover, especially if there 

 be a good portion of ray-grass along with it. Indeed, we 

 have often seen, when ray-grass alone has been mown and 

 made early enough, it has been relished by horses before any 

 other kind of hay ; and certainly the substantiality, and 

 great portion of sugar contained in the straw of this grass, 

 renders it one of the richest kinds of fodder, especially for 

 horses. li requires, however, much care in making and 

 ricking, as it takes a violent heat, and is liable to burn if sud- 

 denly put together in a large rick. 



