Cultivation of Grafs Land. Meadows Shutting up for Hay, 411 



&amp;lt;fefs a proper degree of firmnefs; which will depend on the various circumftances 

 of the preceding feafon. On the more low and moift forts of meadow land it can, 

 probably, feldom be ventured earlier than the middle or latter end of March. 



But it is obvioufly a much better practice, cfpecially where hay is the main ob 

 ject, not to eat them down at all, or very little, with cattle in the fpring, and not 

 fo much, as is the ufual cuftom, with fhecp ; as it is plain that by this means the 

 cultivator will not only enfurea more abundant produce, but a much earlier one; 

 and, of courfe, have more advantage in the making it into hay and fecuring the 

 crop. 



And where the lands are fertile and the grafs fprings quickly, as is often the 

 cafe near large towns, where manure is plentiful, it may be advantageous in the 

 view of having a fecond crop ; as by that means t t- after-grafs may be cut more 

 early, and be lefs in danger of being well fecured. Befides, in all events, the after 

 math will be in a more forward ftate, and, of courfe, ready at a more early period 

 for the ad mi (lion of Itock of different kinds; which, in many cafes, is a circum- 

 ftance of great importance to the farmer. 



The moft proper periods of {hutting up fuch grafs lands as are defigned for hay 

 muft, like thofeof eating them down in the autumn by flock, depend on various 

 circumftances that can only fuit the particular cafes. In general, however, it is 

 the beft practice not to delay it too long. When the lands are not eaten at all in 

 the fpring by cattle, after the fheep have been removed, about the middle of Fe 

 bruary, nothing further is allowed to enter the meadows ; by which means a quick 

 vegetation is fecured, as well as a more plentiful crop and a more early hay harvcft.* 

 And in other cafes it mould probably feldom much exceed the beginning of April, as 

 when eaten much later, efpecially in the fouthern diftricts, there is not time for the 

 grafs to produce a full crop before the commencement of the hay feafon : of courfe 

 the farmer fuftains more lofs than can be repaid by any advantage in the addi 

 tional feeding he may obtain. This is therefore the beft practice where the view of 

 the farmer is hay; and it mould be particularly adopted and attended to in cow 

 farms, where it is of much importance to cut early, and at different times, in order 

 to fecurehay of a fine, foft, graffy quality, for the purpofe of producing large fup- 

 plies of milk. In thefe cafes it is cut two, three, or more weeks before the ufual 

 period, as it is found better not to let the feed- items rife. 



After the meadows or other grafs lands have had the cattle and other forts of live 



* Middlefex Agricultural Report, 



