^6 A»RieULTHRAL ESSAYS. 



CWLTITRE OF ARTIFICIAL GrASSES. 



The term artificial grasses, has been defined to imply a se- 

 lection from the promiscuous family, and a culture, by human 

 art, of the kinds best adapted to the soil and climate of the 

 country, in preference to a reliance upon the grasses produced 

 naturally. The great value of this selection is illustrated by 

 the contrast between the crab of the wilderness and the culti- 

 vated pippin of the orchard; or by a comparison between the 

 esculents of the garden and those of spontaneous production. 



It is remarked by John Taylor, of Caroline, in a paper com- 

 municated to the Agricultural Society of Virginia, that an im- 

 provement of the soil by the culture of artificial grasses, arises 

 from the vegetable matter of both root and top, when ungrazed ; 

 from the former when grazed ; from protecting the grounds a- 

 gainst heat in summer, and cold in winter ^from producing 

 food to create animal manure ; from rendering the ground fit 

 to bear deeper ploughing, by reason of the mass of vegetable 

 matter minglea with it,that it can bear in a naked state,by which 

 its soil is deepened ; and from saving four-fifths of the farm 

 from the hoof and the tooth, by making one fifth far more ade- 

 quate to supply the demand for grass, than the whole without 

 such cultivation. 



The artificiul grasses enable the farmer to raise meats of all 

 kinds, for his G,^7n use and for the market, of the best quality, 

 in the cheapest modes, and to increase the size of all animals 

 destined to slaughter or labor. By a skilful management of ar- 

 tificial grasses, the manure they cause domestic animals to pro- 

 duce, will more than repay in'the improvement of the soil and 

 increase of crops, the expence of their maintenance. Men 

 chiefly subsist upon grain and meat ; brutes upon grass, grain, 

 or dry hay. The difference between th^ expence t)f cultivat- 

 ing an acre of grain, and one of grass, is inconsiderable; and 

 yet the latter will raise far more meat, butter, tallow, leather, 

 and wool. Grass being the basis of food in the case of stocks, 

 as bread stuff* is for man, that mode of obtaining it which pro- 

 duces the most and best,*: with the least injury to the land, and 

 from the smallest space, is' entitled to the preference. 



The artificial grasses, also, produce considerable profit by 

 saving labor. 



But the greatest benefit from the cultivation of artificial 

 grasses, arises from their exclusive capacity to make high land 

 meadows. The expense of clearing and draining the latter, 

 will generally exceed that of manuring the former ; yet th« 

 draining i« considered every v/here as highly profitable and 



