326 Cultivation of Arable Land. Ray Graft Properties of. 



much fvveeter than the leaves, (which is particularly perceptible upon chewing 

 them when about half dry,) and from thofe vegetables which contain much fac- 

 charine matter being particularly nutritious, that the greater proportionate quantity 

 of nutriment will be found torefide in the ftalks ; and if fo, the advantages of ray- 

 grafs will be decifivc. But, however&quot; this may be, it is certain that, fuppofing wet 

 weather comes on during the procefs of hay-making, the firft part of the grafs that 

 decays is the leaf, which foon becomes yellow, and then black, lofing all preten- 

 fions to nutritive properties ; in which cafe, it is evident that almoft the whole 

 nutriment contained in the hay muft refide, excluiively, in the flowering ftalks. 

 Ray-grafs then has, in unfavourable hay feafons, an advantage over all others, 

 inafmuch as, from having fewer leaves, it is not fo apt to be injured by a continu 

 ance of rain: and it is befides, when in the cocks, more acceflible to the air and 

 wind, from lying more open and light ; and confequently not fo apt to heat and 

 mould as other grafles in fimilar fituations and feafons.&quot; 



On the whole, he conceives that &quot; it certainly poflefies the following valuable 

 properties : i. That there are few grafles fo early in the fpring. 2. That there 

 are none better relimed by cattle, or more nutritive. 3. That it has the power of 

 .refifting the effe&s of bad weather, in ticklilh hay feafons, in a greater degree than 

 other grafles. 4. That there is a greater facility in collecting its feed than of 

 any other grafs.&quot; 



It is conceived that the prejudices againft it have arifen, i. &amp;lt; From its having 

 been fown in land not capable of producing a full crop of any good vegetable. 

 2. From allowing it to moot up fo far as to have formed the feed in the flowering- 

 ftalk, before cattle have been turned into pafture, or that it has been cut for hay. 

 Ray-grafs appears to partake more of the nature of grain than any other grafs. 

 Hence, when it has perfected itsfeed,it moots out no more ftalks,and but few leaves 

 that feafon, as lord Kaimes hasjuftly obferved. Hence it is neceffary to turn cattle 

 into a field of this grafs early in the fpring, and to keep it well under by a fufHcient 

 quantity of flock ; in which cafe it will continue to put out frefh flowering ftalks 

 and leaves during the whole feafon. 3. The hay, for the reafons juft afligncd, 

 jfhould be cut before it becomes a mere draw. Common hay grafs, being cornpofed 

 of grafles in various ftages of growth and ripenefs, admits of a greater latitude 

 than a field of ray-grafs, becaufe many of them will generally be in a proper ftate 

 for cutting, although others may have pafled their prime.&quot; 



The following fuels, adduced by this accurate obferver, fully eftablifh its nutri 

 tive properties : &quot;No hay, he fays, could be better relifhcd by his horfes than 

 this was ; not a particle of it was wafted by them, or left in the rack ; no animals 



