Cultivation of Grafs Land. MowingCircuniftances to be regarded in. 4.51 



ftand too long ; as in the former cafes there will be confiderable lofs in the drying 

 from the produce being in fo foft and green a condition, and in the latter from a 

 large proportion of the nourifhing properties being expended. It is probable, 

 therefore, that grafs, when mown before it becomes. in full flower, while the rich 

 faccharine juice is in part retained at the joints of the flower-ftems, is in the moft 

 proper condition for being cut down, as at that period it mult contain the largefl 

 proportion of nutritious material, but which then begins to be ablbrbed and taken 

 up in proportion as the flowers expand and the feeds ripen, fo as to conftitutc the 

 meal or ftarch of the feed-k&amp;gt;&amp;gt;es, and is cither difperfed upon the land or fed upon 

 by birds, the grafs -ftcms with their leaves being left in a fimilar fituation to that 

 of the ftraw of ripened grain. 



But there are other circumftances befides thofe of ripenefs to be attended to in 

 determining the period of cutting crops of grafs ; as in fome cafes, where they 

 are thick upon the ground, the bottom parts become of a yellow colour before the 

 flowering fully takes place : under fuch circumftances it will always be the mofl 

 advifable practice to mow as foon as the weather will poflibly admit ; for if this 

 be neglected there will be great danger of its rotting, or at any rate of its acquir 

 ing a difagreeable flavour, and of becoming of but little value. Where grafs is 

 very tall, as is often the cafe in moift meadows, it is liable to fall down and lodge, 

 by which the fame effects are produced. In this cafe alfo the mowing mould be 

 performed as foon as poflible. 



But where there is nothing of this fort, it appears evident that the moft proper 

 time for performing the bufinefs is when the grafs has begun to flower, before the 

 feed-ftems become hard and wiry; as at this period it would feem to contain the 

 largefl proportion of ufeful matter. Befides, when let ftand too long, the after- 

 grafs is not only lefs abundant, but there is great lofs by the crumbling down of 

 the ftems in the different operations of hay-making.* The ufual time of cutting 

 for hay in the firft crop is from about the middle of June to the beginning of the 

 following month, according to the nature of the land, and as the diftrict is more 

 early or late. 



In the operation of mowing, the chief art confifts in cutting the crop as clofe to 

 the furface of the ground as poflible and perfectly level, pointing the fwaths well 

 out, fo as to leave fcarcely any ridges under them. 



In cutting rowen, orfecond crops of grafs, more attention in thcfe different re- 



* Corrected Report of Perthfhire. 



