Ch. XIV.] 



ON HARVEST. 



185 



early part of the summer proves wet, and is followed by drought, the short- 

 strawed species have an advantage over the other kinds, as they arrive at 

 maturity before the dry weather commences ; but, when the early part of 

 the summer is first dry, and then followed by rain, the long-strawed sorts 

 are benefitted by the moisture ; and when the season is throughout wet, the 

 smaller species frequently obtain the advantage in point of grain, over the 

 larger oats, in consequence of tjje straw of the latter becoming too luxu- 

 riant *. 



The straw of oats is generally preferred, as fodder, to that of wheat ; for 

 when given to cattle, they are found to like it better if well saved, and if 

 the quality be good. It is also thought to be more nutritive ; but that, we 

 imagine, arises from the difficulty which sometimes occurs in cleanly 

 thrashing the grain, in consequence of the irregularity with which it ripens. 

 It is, indeed, not unfrequently given by farmers to their working horses 

 unthrashed, and cut into manger-meat without any hay ; but it is a practice 

 by which nothing more is gained than the mere saving of the expense 

 of thrashing, while it prevents any just estimate of the proper quantity 

 of corn to be consumed t. 



Table shoicing the Comparative Value of Oats, per Barrel in Ireland, 

 and per Quarter in England. 



Chapter XIV. 

 ON HARVEST. 



Although the term Harvest properly applies to the gathering-in and 

 storing of every species of vegetable which is carried off the ground, yet 

 we think it may be more aptly attached to tiiose crops which are commonly 



\. * Transactions of the Highland Society, N. S. vol, ii. p. 358. 

 t See Yoli i. chap, vii, pp, 132, 144. 



