Chap. IX. LUCERNE. 359 



I {hall not, however, pretend to determine from this one experi- 

 ment, that it is beft to lay down large fields in this manner. I think 

 it will be right to try firft, whether the fucceis will be die fame on 

 different foils, and likewife on lands whofe expofition may be more 

 or lefs advantageous. If, after repeated trials, the beds which have 

 but one row of plants, yield the greateft quantity of hay, that me^ 

 thod is certainly to be preferred. To clear up this point, ftill more 

 to my fatisfadion, I continue to plant lucerne in beds, fome with one, 

 and others with three rows. 



" The difference between the crop of 1756, and thofe of the two 

 preceding years, would induce one to think that rainy feafons are beft 

 for the produdion of hay: but ftill the greater quantity which the 

 year 1756 produced, muft not be imputed to the rain only: we 

 Ihould likewife confider, that the plants had throve greatly fince 

 1754 i that their ftems were grown much larger, and their roots 

 much ftronger and more numerous, and that they were confequently 

 able to yield much greater crops than before. They have abundantly 

 anfwered my expedlation, both as to quantity and quality. 



" With refped to the quantity, it is much greater than that of any 

 common fodder : I mean, of any that the fame extent of ground 

 would have produced, if cultivated in the common way j though it 

 would then have been covered with an immenfe quantity ot plants. 

 This is a fact, which numbers of experiments prove, and which we 

 fliall ceafe to wonder at when we conlider the great effeds of the fre- 

 quent ftirring of the alleys. To this it is that I owe the repetition 

 of my crops, and their being all of nearly equal goodnefs. I do not 

 exaggerate, when I fay, that every fummer month, which is the time 

 I. generally allow between each cutting, will produce flioots two feet 

 long, and fometimes more : and fuppcfing that I cut them but five 

 times a year, each plant will have produced after the rate of nine or 

 ten feet length of flioots, and that in the fame time that moil mea- - 

 •'dows will not produce grafs above two feet long. 



" As to the quality of this hay, I continue to prefer it to all other . 

 fodder. My experience has confirmed what I faid of it in 1754; and . 

 I fliall only add, that I have fincc found, that it. is as good at the end ; 

 of four years, as when it is firft cut. If there was. any difference, 

 horfes would foon be fenfible of it : but they eat of either without, 

 diftindion. 



" I feed my horfes with it, chiefly in the. fummer, at which time 

 they do moil work, and.am mcire :and rnere feBuble of the ad- 

 vantages 



