48 CHAPTER 5. 



of certain sorts of herbage (of which hereafter) which do not grow on 

 lowland. 



Lowland hay is known by the coarseness of the stalks and by the 

 broad leaves of its grasses (of which hereafter), and by the absence of 

 good upland herbage. The hay, though coarser, is softer, less firm and 

 crisp than upland hay. The colour is also darker. 



Water-meadow hay is at once recognised by its very coarse, broad, 

 often reed-like stalks, and by the very broad, often flag-like leaves of its 

 grasses, and by a large admixture of sedge, and of plants approaching 

 the nature of sedge, and rushes. See No. 19, Hushes, No. 20, Sweet- 

 reed grass (Glyceria or Poa aquatica), No. 21, Ribbon-grass (Digr aphis 

 arundinacea}. 



Water-meadow grass is quite unfit for horses, and will be not further 

 alluded to. 



The above are only general distinctions. The minuter distinctions, as 

 regards upland and lowland hay, will be detailed below. 



82. Characteristics of good upland hay. 



Good upland hay should be moderately fine, somewhat hard, sweet- 

 smelling, and well saved. The colour should be green, and should 

 convey an idea of newness. Very little heating or fermentation should 

 have taken place in the stack. Some slight heating is, however, almost 

 unavoidable if the crop is cut early, as it ought to be, whilst the juices 

 are still in the grass, or, in other words, before it has run to seed. This 

 slight heating will prevent the best early-cut hay from being very green. 

 A preference has been shown in London of late years for very green 

 hay, arising from the idea that when of this colour, it is most nearly in 

 its natural state ; but, for the reason given above, this idea, if carried 

 too far, is a fallacy. 



Other causes, such as a shower of rain falling on the grass when 

 nearly ready to be carried, or exposure to a very hot sun, will often cause 

 hay to lose its very green colour, though it may not have suffered any 

 real damage. 



The flowering heads of the grasses ought to be present in abundance. 

 Hay, which consists of an undue proportion of leaves, is inferior. Every 

 fibre should be firm and crisp, and should appear distinct. The fibres in 

 good upland hay often lie in one direction. In machine-tossed hay, how- 

 ever, the direction of the fibres is not so well preserved as in that made 

 by the hand-rake. A tangled confusion of the constituents is a sign of 

 badly saved or lowland hay. The perfume of the best upland hay, 

 though not so strong, is very like that of new-mown grass. If masticated 

 it has a mild flavour, whilst lowland and inferior growths have a strong 

 pungent taste. 



Hay grown on good soils is also distinguished by the number and 

 variety of the grasses. Horses prefer hay composed of a variety of 

 good grasses to that consisting of only one sort, even though that sort 

 may be the very best. 



