CULTURE OF ARTIFICIAL GRASSES. 1*7 



aseful. The comparative expense between that and making^ 

 high land grass, is not materially affected by the probable com- 

 parative profit. A good spring crop of high land grass, is 

 more common in our climate, than of low land, and is not expos- 

 ed to inundation. A pound of high land grass, green or dry, 

 generally contains as much nutriment as two of low land. It is 

 more easily made into good hay. And high land grasses pos- 

 sess the great exclusive value of enriching the high and dry 

 land on which they are sown. These considerations disclose 

 items of profit, resulting from the culture of artificial grasses, 

 which, when united, warrant the conclusion, that it is capable 

 of rendering a great proportion of our high, dry, and hilly land 

 as valuable as reclaimed meadow land. 



After these general remarks respecting the utility of artifi- 

 cial grasses, it is necessary, for the purpose of forming a cor- 

 rect opinion on this subject, to take a view of the several kinds 

 which have been cultivated in Great Britain, and some parts of 

 the United States, together with the mode of culture, and soil 

 most suitable to them, respectively. 



The science on this subject, as it may be applicable to our 

 country, has been well digested in a work lately published, en- 

 titled the Farmer's Assistant, a compendium of which shall be 

 here inserted. 



LucERN, {Medicass Saliva). This grass is very highly es- 

 teemed for soiling, though it makes good hay if cut quite green. 

 Mr. Livingston, of New- York, has made considerable trials of 

 it in that State, and the products have, in some instances, been 

 greater than those mentioned by British writers. With the 

 best cultivation and plentiful manuring, from six to nine tons of 

 hay, per acre, may be had in a season, of this grass. Twenty 

 pounds 3f seed are requisite for an acre, if sown in the broad 

 cast, or six pounds if drilled. If cultivated in the latter way, 

 it is to be ploughed and hand hoed three or four time^in the 

 season : but perhaps the broad cast is the more profitable, 

 when labor is high. Mr. Young recommends sowing it with 

 oats ; first sowing and harrowing in that gjain, and then sow- 

 ing or drilling in the lucern, and covering it lightly with a 

 light harrow. Others, however, advise that the ground be 

 previously well prepared by deep, frequent, and effectual 

 ploughings ; and that the seed be sown by itself. And as it it 

 essential that the ground be well seeded, perhaps this is the 

 best way. Mr. Livingston sowed it in the fore part of Septem- 

 iber, after a crop of early potatoes, and found it to answer very 

 jwcll, if the ground be prepared for it by summer fallowing 

 !«<, tiiia time. The essential points in preparing the ground are 



