FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 3$7 



Becomes harder by the treading of the cattle. Much, how* 

 ever, in that case depends on the natural mellowness of the 

 soil 



Clover forms but a crumbly sward; timothy is stiffer; 

 but the English bluegrass (fioa compressa) forms one ot 

 the strongest. This, where it is very strong, and the soil 

 full of vegetable matter, may be cut and used as turf. 



Strong swards usually accumulate along the sides of 

 fences, and where cattle much resort, which may be used 

 to advantage in composts. 

 See MANURES 



When the sward of mowing-ground binds too much, it is 

 usually most advisable to break it up and till the ground. 

 If this be not done, scarifying and compost-manures are to 

 be resorted to. The binding of the sward, in mowing or in 

 pasture-grounds, is principally the effect of close feeding. 

 Let a sufficiency of fog, or aftergrass, be left on such lands* 

 and they will not be apt to bind. 



Generally speaking, there is no method so easy, and 

 cheap, of covering dry soils, which are poor or exhausted* 

 with a fresh green sward, as the use of gypsum; and this 

 should always be done, before such grounds are broken up; 

 as, in that case, double, or perhaps treble, the crop may be 

 expected from them, that they will yield if broken up with 

 a light, poor sward on them. Let the gypsum be sown on 

 such lands early in the Spring; and by the first of the fol- 

 lowing July they will be covered with a fine sward of white- 

 clover; and, when land is well covered with this grass, it is 

 in good condition, with the aid of good ullage, to bear a 

 plentiful crop. 



SWARTH-RAKE. This is a rake about two yards long, 

 with iron teeth, and a bearer in the middle; to which a Man 

 fixes himself with a belt, and, when he has gathered as 

 much as his rake will hold, he raises it and begins again. 

 Comfilete Farmer. 



For another kind of rake, see HAYMAKING. 



SWINE. < The Cattle Society of Pennsylvania 9 recom- 

 mend crossing the Guinea breed of Hogs with the best 

 kinds of our common Swine, which, they say, forms a breed 

 the most profitable t>f any. 



The Chinese breed are very good. The large longbodied 

 Hogs, with long ears leaning forward, are most profitable to 

 faten the second year. 



Particular pains should be taken to select and improve 

 the breed of Hogs, as some kinds are much more profitable 

 tor raising than others. After a proper improvement of the 



