OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 297 



farmers, who are eminent in their business, abhor rye-grass 

 on strong lands, from a multitude of observations on the 

 wheat which follows it ; for the cases are many, in which 

 fields, partly sown with clover alone, and partly with clover 

 and rye-grass, where the superiority of the wheat after the 

 clover alone, induced them to resolve on the omission of 

 rye-grass in future. Mr Rennie of Phantassie concurs in 

 that opinion. He observes, there can be little doubt that 

 rye-grass is very hurtful to wheat, and when wheat is in- 

 tended, no rye-grass ought to be sown. But wheat after 

 grass, or even after clover alone, being now almost totally 

 given up, oats paying better, the observation does not apply 

 to the system of husbandry practised in Scotland. 



It has been alleged, that cocksfoot answers all the purpo- 

 ses of rye-grass, particularly as a mixture with clover ; that 

 it supports more stock, and does not equally exhaust the 

 soil ;* but this is a circumstance not yet fully ascertained, 

 and rye-grass, if properly cultivated, is certainly a valuable 

 plant, either sown by itself, or mixed with clover. In re- 

 gard to rye-grass, either cut green, or converted into hay, 

 a person of much experience in the management of horses, 

 (Mr Alexander Maclaurin of Edinburgh), considers rye- 

 grass, mixed with clover, as a strong, pleasant, and substan- 

 tial food for horses, even at hard work, and every season he 

 has given it green, even to post-horses, in the stable, and it 

 has answered well. He is also of opinion, that hay made 

 of clover and rye-grass, if cut at a proper season, (before 

 the plants are too ripe), if safely got in, and properly 

 thatched, so as to prevent its being injured by the winter 

 rains, instead of becoming dry and husky, as some people 



* All difference between cocksfoot and rye-grass, must depend on thr 

 Weight of the crops, and quantity of seed carried by each. 



