8 



The hay was sold and delivered as soon as cured, 



at nine dollars per ton, .... 182 00 



The fall feed, sold for .... 4 50 



$186 50 



The whole labor was performed by contract at four dollars 



per acre for both crops, .... 36 00 



Leaving a balance in favor of the land, of . $150 50 



The hay was considered as sold at a low rate. The same 

 quality of hay in the following winter brought 13 dollars per 

 ton. 



The land has been estimated at one hundred dollars per acre. 

 No manure has been put upon the ground. The produce in 

 this case, was not more than an average crop. This yield was 

 at the rate of 4,494 lbs. to the acre. First crop, 2,813 8-9 per 

 acre ; second crop, 1,657 7-9 lbs. per acre. This constitutes 

 some of the best land in the meadows. There is that, how- 

 ever, which is deemed even more productive. 



The hay from these natural meadows is exceedingly coveted 

 by the cattle and remarkably nutritious. It consists of a very 

 great variety of plants, but what is called the English bent, 

 (agrosiis alba,) ])\:evai\s with a slight intermixture of clover. 

 I do not know what has given it the name of English, as it is 

 without doubt indigenous to the soil. It requires to be cut 

 early, otherwise it becomes hard and wiry. Some of the farm- 

 ers are in the habit of making or drying this hay much less 

 than formerly. It was considered best to dry it as much as 

 possible ; but this is not now the case. Hay, wet from exter- 

 nal moisture, whether dew or rain, always suffers and becomes 

 mouldy and sour, if packed away with any of this dampness 

 upon it. But hay when perfectly dry may be put away with 

 much of the sap remaining in it ; and though it sweats severely 

 in the mow and becomes somewhat discolored from the heat, 

 yet it is not the less relished by, nor the less nutritious to, the 

 fatting cattle. This is the actual experience of some of the 



