Cultivation of Arable Land,- 



In its green ftateitis highly ufeful for all forts of flock ; though fonie fuppofe 

 that when given to milch cows the milk is not fo well flavoured. 



When made into hay it is an extremely nutritious fodder for working-horfes, as. 

 well as other forts of cattle. And the after-grafs is highly valuable for weaning 

 and fupporting lambs. 



As this fort of herbage is fuppofed to be improved by being nipped by the froft, 

 it may be a proper practice not to turn upon thefe lays too early in the an- 

 tumn. 



The application of manure upon faintfoin lays is of great utility, when put en 

 in the latter end of the fecond autumn after they have been laid down. For this 

 purpofe peat ames are the beft material where they can be procured. Other forts 

 of afhes are likewife found beneficial where thefe cannot be had. They mould be 

 applied fo as to form a thin even dreiling. Soot has alfo been found of great utility 

 when fpread evenly over thefe lays about the beginning of January, in the propor 

 tion of about twenty-five bufhels to the acre. And malt duft has been employed in 

 the fame way with great fuccefs.* Where top-dreflings of this fort can be applied 

 every third or fourth year, the faintfoin crops, when well eftablifhed in the foils, 

 may be preferved inaftate of vigorous growth for ten or fifteen years, and the 

 land be confiderably improved by the roots.-}- It ufually attains its perfect growth 

 about the third year ; and begins to decline towards the eighth or tenth, if not 

 wellaflifted by manure in the manner mentioned above. 



It is, in fome cafes, a profitable application of this fort of crop to cut it before 

 it comes into flower, for the purpofe of foiling horned and other forts of cattle, in the 

 manner that has been defcribed for clover. 



The moft ufual application of it is, however, in hay, which it affords of the bed 

 and moft nutritious quality, both for horfes and other forts of cattle. The method 

 of bringing it into this condition differs but little from that employed for clover. 

 It is cut immediately on its coming into full bloflbm ; and as it remains but a fhort 

 time in this ftate, as much expedition as poflible is employed both in mowing and 

 making the produce into hay. This, of all other graffes, requires the leaft pains 

 in making. When the feafon is fine the hay-makers may follow the fcythe, and 

 having turned over the fwaths, throw them into wind-rows the fucceeding day 

 after the grafs is mown, when it may be immediately formed into cocks, and the 

 whole crop be fit for carting in a few days after it is mown : and though it may 



* Synopfis of Hufbandry. i Kent s Hints. 



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