'OS AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS, 



firsUo manure it well, and then to have it frequently and deep- 

 ly ploughed, and well cleared of the seeds of weeds. A dry 

 loam, sandy or gravelly loam, rich sand, or other good dry 

 soil, is suitable for it : it is said to grow well in the coldest cli- 

 mates ; but those which are mild are most suitable for it. It 

 is a very early grass, endures drought well, and grows very 

 late. When ground has been well prepared for flax, this grass 

 will be sowed to advantage immediately after that crop. 



During the first season of its growth the product will not be 

 so large as afterwards ; in this season, too, when cultivated in 

 the broad cast way, it is most infested with weeds, which are 

 most easily destroyed by frequent mowings for the purpose of 

 soiling. The mowings may be as often as the grass will fill 

 the scythe. During th*>s season, too, it will be much hurt by be 

 ing pastured ; but after this it may be fed without injury. 



Sometimes this grass becomes diseased and turns yellow; 

 in such case, let it be mowed, immediately, and it will then start 

 as fresh and green as ever. 



Mr. De La Bigarre says, that after this grass has stood two 

 or three seasons, it should be well harrowed early in the 

 spring ; and if the roots are considerably torn by the operation 

 they will not be injured. This should be repeated every second 

 spring afterwards, and at these times the ground should previ- 

 ously have a good top dressing,which will be well mixedwith the 

 soil in the operation of harrovring. The dressing should not 

 be of barn dung, but some manure, or compost, free of the 

 seed of weeds. Bog durt,bog marie, mud, &c. are good for 

 this purpose. Gypsum may well be applied every spring, but 

 not before the harrowing, as this manure should never be bu- 

 ried in the soil. Mr. Young, of Great Britain, makes a compu- 

 tation of his expenses in cultirating one acre of this grass in 

 the drill way ; and after deducting the expenses and rent of 

 the ground, tythe and rates, he makes the clear profit of 9;. ' 

 I85. trf. sterling. Mr. Livingston has also made a similar 

 computation of some cultivated by him in the broad cast, the re- 

 sult of which was not very far diflferent, though the value of the 

 crop was in this case set much lower than that put upon it by 

 the former gentleman. This grass lasts about ten years, when 

 the ground should be ploughed up, and it will then b^ found 

 very rich, as the crops do not materially exhaust the soil. 



It is believed by some that for soiling, in particular, this 

 grass will be found more productive and profitable than any 

 other, where the highest cultivation and a suitable soil are giv- 

 en to it, and where the climate is suitable for its growth. It has 

 i^een pbserved by Mr. Young that for fatting biiilocks, and for 



