328 TOP-DRESSING THE STUBBLE. 



from grass side by side, the one cut close, the other 

 two inches high, the grasses should have some leaves 

 left them to receive this benefit. Grass cut two inches 

 high will keep growing, while that closely cut will be 

 even weeks before it will show the first signs of life." 



Some make a practice of top-dressing immediately 

 after removing the hay from the ground, and when this 

 course is adopted the grass is cut quite near the surface. 

 A farmer who takes this course says : "Where I top-dress 

 immediately after, I cut as low as I can, to save all the 

 grass I can. If I do not top-dress, I cut from two to 

 three inches high, to protect and nourish the roots. I do 

 not feed in the fall where I do not top-dress. I intend to 

 manure all my natural upland mowing land, and never 

 feed my old fields." And another : " I like to cut rather 

 near the ground, for the reason that more hay is obtained. 

 If the soil is in good condition, and not too dry, it will 

 start again immediately. I know some say cut high, 

 the stubble will manure the land and protect the roots ; 

 but I prefer to manure with something better for pro- 

 tection. I top-dress my mowing land, and prefer a 

 compost made of woollen waste and meadow mud for 

 soil not very wet ; but for a cold, heavy soil, should 

 prefer sand, or sandy loam, to mix with wool waste. 

 Apply fifteen cart-loads, of thirty bushels each, late in 

 autumn." 



Thus, the testimony on this point is somewhat at 

 variance ; but many have noticed the injury inflicted 

 upon Timothy by low cutting in dry weather, sufficient, 

 perhaps, to establish the principle alluded to on a pre- 

 ceding page. Most concur in saying that the finer 

 grasses can be cut lower with safety, particularly if the 

 season be not too dry. Much, undoubtedly, depends 

 upon the soil and the season. 



