70 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



'^ with tlio Avrono- leg' foremost," and really Le^ 

 comes ^^labom' in vain." 



In some places, or near largo towns, farmers 

 lose sight of their true interests, — the real well- 

 doing of tlieir meads for hay, — by grazing them 

 with tlieir milch cows too long and too late in 

 spring, and this particularly when near any large 

 or fashionable watering-place, where there is a 

 great demand for fresh butter, milk, and cream. 

 I have also observed, on some large estates, that, 

 because in a particular season hay and straw 

 were short or next to nothing, they, the tenants, 

 were permitted to sell what little hay and straw 

 they had at very high prices, instead of con- 

 suming it on their j^remises, on condition that 

 they would jjurchase and lay out on the farm so 

 much artificial manure. This system is death to 

 the productive quality of the land ; and, though 

 apparently harsh in some* cases to refuse to men 

 who may be, by circumstances, hard pressed for 

 money, still I would prefer an abatement of rent 

 on an individual rent-day, to giving any such 

 joermission as to exporting the hay and straw off 

 tlie acres where it grew. 



