OF STRAW, ITS VALUE, AND USBS. 401 



<it makes the expence of feeding with straw the same ; 

 whilst at the same time, by the use of hay, his horses are 

 fed in a superior style, two feeds of corn are saved for the 

 market, a greater quantity of dung is made from the straw 

 saved, aad the troublesome carriage of hay is in many 

 cases avoided. He hopes therefore, that so advantageous 

 a mode of feeding work horses, will soon become general 

 in this country. On the other hand it is contended, that 

 with three feeds of even inferior oats, and good oat-straw, 

 horses are fully able for their winter work. 



3. Sheep. There is no food of which sheep are fonder 

 than peas-straw. The soil of the pastoral districts in Scot- 

 land, being rarely of a kind calculated for peas, any exten- 

 sive cultivation of that grain is impracticable ; but where 

 circumstances are favourable to that crop, peas ought to 

 be cultivated, were it merely for the straw, as it would 

 enable the store-farmers to carry on their system of sheep- 

 farming with much more advantage. Indeed the same 

 plan might be advisable in other districts. It may be pro- 

 per to add, that for ewes at yeaning time, lentil-hay is 

 better than tare-hay, or even peas-halm. 



4. Miscellaneous Rules and Observations. On turnip farms 

 in Scotland, it is the usual practice, to feed horses till 

 March, where the labour is not severe, and cows through 

 the winter, with oat-straw, whilst the fattening, and straw- 

 yard cattle, get the straw of wheat and barley. If any peas 

 or beans be cultivated on the farm, that straw being given 

 to the horses, a part of the oat-straw may be left for the 

 fattening and straw-yard cattle. Upon turnip farms, it is 

 not thought profitable to cut the greater part of the clovers 

 for hay. These are usually eaten by sheep, and no more 

 bay saved, than what may serve the horses, cows, and fat- 



VOL, i. 2 c 



