2^8 Essay on Agriculture as a Science. 



fection in their inflorescence — that it is at this period alone all 

 extracts from vegetable substances are taken : and as in the 

 case of hav the whole vegetable is preserved, it is of great im- 

 portance that it should be mowed in its highest state of perfection, 

 that is, when the predominant varieties of grass are in flower. 



The practical farmer knows nothing of all this : he lias his own 

 rules for deciding on maturity, and generally cuts his crop be- 

 fore either the cocksfoot or the rye-grass (the two earliest of 

 our predominant grasses) are in flower. 



I sometimes feel an ill-natured pleasure when I see the tramp- 

 cocks of these early gentry collapse considerably for want of 

 substance, giving evidence of jircniature mowing, and establish- 

 ing the inferiority of the hay. 



Here the experimentalist would be useful, by enabling us to 

 compare portions of hay from the same crop, cut at different 

 periods — even the farmer himself, would he condescend to doubt, 

 might soon satisfy himself: by leaving the amount of a tramp- 

 cock uncut for one, two, or perhaps three weeks, later than the 

 rest, he would probablvfind his hay firmer and better; he is cer- 

 tain also, the quantity is somewhat increased. 



Was the arrangement I recommend adopted, many agricuitural 

 questions of much importance would receive speedy solutions. — 

 That of the proper seasons for sowing our several grains has 

 been much agitated. 



Upon this question the theorist would pronounce generally, 

 that agricultural policy directed the season for sowing each ve- 

 getable, to be so chosen, that it might remain above ground in 

 the very best portion of the year, neither exposed unnecessarily 

 to late frosts in its tender state, nor to premature winter seve- 

 rities when ripening its seed. 



Hence the season for sowing each vegetable should be deter- 

 mined by the interval between the seed and the sickle, which 

 Nature has assigned to each species, corresponding with the 

 period of gestatiem in animals, and unalterably fixed at the time 

 of their original formation. Upon this principle it is obvious 

 that the vegetables of slowest growth should be sown first, while 

 those of quicker progress should be delayed longer. 



The question has now reached the e\perimentalist, who will 

 probably sow many varieties in distinct plots, on the same day; 

 and by accurately observing their times of ripening will make 

 Iiimself acquainted with their respective periods. 



What I recommend here as experiment, is the actual practice 

 in Egypt, where they sow all their grains, of whatever species, on 

 the same day, that is, the first moment the retreat of the Nile 

 gives them access to their land, just relieved from its annual iiv- 

 luidatiou. 



We 



