ri8 STATISTICAL SURVEY 



fpeaking, are left to nature, and thofe, which lie on the 

 fides of rivers and fmaller ftreams, which are very nu- 

 merous, often receive more injury than good from 

 their fituation ; for they are fed fo late in fpring, that 

 to obtain a quantity of grafs for hay, they are cut juft 

 at the period the waters begin to rife, from which 

 error the crop is often loft by floods, or fo much hurt 

 by the earthy particles conveyed by them, as to be 

 rendered ufelefs for any other purpofe than that of 

 making dung. 



Quantity in general feems fo much to be preferred 

 to quality, that in thofe grounds, which from their 

 nature and fituation are liable to produce the coarfer 

 grafles, the time of cutting is generally fo late, that all 

 the juices are fled before that operation is performed,, 

 and a dry harfh food is provided for cattle, inftead of 

 that fine and balmy hay obtained by early cutting and 

 favourable weather. Many of the fineft and moft pro- 

 ductive meadows we have are thofe, which lie on the 

 fkirts of turf-bogs, juft where the junction is formed 

 between the peaty earth and the loam i the fertility of 

 this compound foil is very great indeed, the vegetation, 

 moft rapid, and the natural grafles of the very beft 

 Icind ; which plainly fhews, that a judicious mixture of 

 thefe foils is productive of very great benefit. Could 

 we be. prevailed on to try the Wiltfhire mode of ma* 

 waging meadow grounds, as given by Mr. Davies, 

 our own miiinanagement -would fopn be exploded. la 



WUtfture 



