54 CHAPTEIt 5. 



Dandelions grow on good soil, but their presence shows that the land 

 has not been kept clean. 



Sorrel grows on light soils. It gives a subacid taste to hay. A small 

 quantity is not objectionable. 



The Rib Plantain (Plantago lanceolate) is a common weed, growing on 

 all soils. It is n t objectionable in hay. No. 28. 



Hard or Black heads, otherwise called Knapweed (Centaur ea nigra), 

 are coarse, tough, and quite indigestible. No. 29. 



Rattle (Rhinanthus crista-galli) grows on poor land. Its abundance in 

 any sample of hay is a sure sign of poor land, though a very little is 

 sometimes found on good soils. It is a great nuisance to the farmer. 

 No. 30. 



Common Bank Sedge (Carex riparia), if large, indicates very inferior 

 wet soil. Its presence should cause any sample to be rejected. Smaller 

 varieties, some very small, are, however, found on poor upland soils. 

 No. 31. 



Smaller forms of sedge are sometimes found on upland, and are not 

 injurious, though indicating poor soil. 



The Wood-rush (Luzula campestris) is very common on upland soils. 

 Its presence in any considerable quantity indicates an inferior quality of 

 hay. No. 32. 



Cat's-ear (Hypochceris radicata) is most objectionable. It has a bitter 

 taste, which will cause horses to reject the whole lot of hay, so much do 

 they dislike it. It has a flower somewhat like the dandelion. No. 33. 



Silverweed or Goose-grass (Potentilla anserina) is found on clayey 

 sands. No. 34. 



Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) abounds in all moist chalky soils and 

 clays. No. 35. 



93. Of the time of cutting liay and saving hay. 



Hay may be composed only of the best grasses and herbage, and yet 

 may be inferior or bad, because 



1st. It may have been cut too late ; or 

 2nd. It may have been badly saved. 



94. Of late-cut hay. 



This is a very common evil. The farmer often delays to cut in the 

 hope of obtaining a greater bulk of under grass. This is especially apt 

 to be the case in dry seasons ; or, on the other hand, the crop in wet 

 seasons may be left to stand over-long in the hope of finer weather. 



The crop should be cut before the grasses have run to seed. The 

 permanent grasses flower and seed every year. In common with all such 

 plants, the nutriment of the plant passes into the seed for the reproduc- 

 tion of its kind in the succeeding year. 



We all recognise the effect of seeding on the stem or straw of com. 

 The straw is almost worthless for feeding, because the nutriment of the 

 plant has passed into the seed. This is also to a great degree the case 



