4G2 Cultivation of Graft Land. Management of After-grafs Feeding of. 



turned upon the land. Both endeavour to fupport their opinions by experience. 

 But as they cannot be both of them true, it is probable that theextremes of each arc 

 to be avoided ; and that, as in many other matters, the truth may lie in the mid 

 dle. This is indeed equally fupported by fact, and the obfervation of the mod in 

 telligent managers ; as when the cattle are turned in too early there is not a fuffi- 

 eient bite to keep up the condition of the animals ; while in the contrary extreme, 

 the ftock fo foon fill themfelves. that much of it is trodden down and wafted after 

 wards in their roaming about the fields to pick the fweeteft morfels. In confirma 

 tion of this opinion, Mr. Marfhall found in the midland diftricts, that milch cows 

 fell offin milk, and bullocks in flefh, on being put in too early, before there was 

 a fufncient bite. This he, however, feems to confider as arifing from the want of 

 nutritious quality in the grafs in thisftate. And the incautious obfervation of 

 common farmers has afcribcd it to the inconvenience the animals fuftain in feeding 

 from the ftubs. It is not, however, probable that either is the cafe ; for as foon as 

 the fcythe has feparated the old grafs from the roots, new (hoots are made that 

 are highly fweet and nourifhing. This may be eafily perceived to be the cafe on 

 examining a piece of ground foon after its being mown, and tailing the young 

 ilioots. The fuppofuion refpeding the ftubs is fhown to be founded in error, 

 from the circumftance of the ftock devouring the herbage with avidity, as Mr. 

 Marfhall has well remarked. Befides, the animals lick in their food by the tongue, 

 which is armed for the purpofe before it is bitten, and do not pufh their nofes fo 

 us to be inconvenienced by the ftifTnefs of the cut grafs-ftems. It is poffible, how 

 ever, that fome eftecl in lowering the condition of the ftock may arife from the 

 laxative effect that may atfirft be produced on the animals by fuch young fuccu- 

 lent grafs. 



Where much ftock is turned upon after- grafs in a full ftate of growth, there 

 cannot be any doubt but that much lofs muft, as has been juft obferved, be fuftained 

 by the treading down and rendering the grafs unfit for being eaten off. This is 

 fufficiently evident on viewing fields fed in this ftate. 



It is therefore perhaps only by beginning the paftu rage of after-grafs when in 

 the middle ftate of growth that it can be confumed to the beft advantage, and with 

 out lofs in either of the ways that have been juft noticed. This pradice feems to be 

 countenanced by the obfervation of an agricultor who has had much opportunity 

 of information on the fubjecl.* 



* \Vilkinfon in Commercial and Agiicultural Magaz : ne, vol. IV. 



