358 FEEDING AND MOWING. [.JUNE, 



only be the appearance of a large burthen of hay at 

 once upon the ground, that constitutes so strong an 

 idea of a crop ; and the notion of cattle in feeding 

 manuring the land greatly. As to the product, it is, 

 probably, nearly the same when fed as \ 

 mown; only the eating as fast as it grows, prevents 

 the quantity appearing : the argument is therefore 

 reduced to the manuring received from the cattle 

 in feeding. 



That this is not of much consequence from great 

 cattle, I think there is reason to suppose. In the 

 first place, it is not laid on in one body, so as to 

 occasion a fermentation in the soil. In the next, it 

 is dropped at an unfavourable season, summer. It 

 is also in such irregular quantities as to do mischief. 

 'Great cattle, while they dung, stand still, and drop 

 the whole in one spot ; no grass is there to be 

 found for a twelvemonth ; and when it docs come, 

 it is often rank, and left uneaten, occasioning 

 loss, unless the scythe follows : and the quantity 

 of grass thus hurt for a season is not inconsider- 

 able. 



- Perhaps the treading of heavy cattle is hurtful 

 to the grass ; the surface of the ground is too com- 

 pact and bound without such an addition. 



But the land receiving little benefit from feeding 

 is not the only point : I conceive that a crop, such 

 as we mow for hay, if cut early, is of benefit to it, 

 from being at once on the land. The thick shade 

 in the summer breeds a fermentation, opens and 

 oosens the surface ; of which any one may be conr 



vinCed. 



