SCO AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM 



\y rains, and snow. It is well known that hay, mouldy 

 from rain, is rendered palatcable and remarkably nutri- 

 tious to ca'tle, by simply strewing salt on the stack, at 

 the rate of 10 or 15 pounds |?cr ton when making ; equal- 

 ly notorious is it, that a sensible effect is hereby produc. 

 ed to the taste ; that caLtIc will prefer it to bi'tter hay, 

 ivell put together, and will demand, when fed on it, 

 without injury to themselves, tiiree times as much wa- 

 ter ; which circamstance alone accounts for that apti- 

 tude to fatten, which is conspicuous in hay so salted. It 

 remained lo be proved, how good hay, which had not 

 spoai iii strength in premature fermentation, would bear 

 such a quantity of salt as would invigorate the stomach, 

 quicken the circulation of the blood, and excite in cattle 

 a desire to drink larg(*ly ; that it does bear it, and that 

 the effect this hay has upon stock almost surpasses be- 

 lief, we have ascertained. Some of our hay, lately in 

 use, was of the first qual'ty of sheep hay, the produce of 

 rich and deep loam on a limestone bottom ; it was put to- 

 gether without wet, and had 251b. of salt jper ton sprink- 

 led through a sieve, a greater quantity than hasyetbcen 

 used. In colour, flavour, and proof, it equalled any hay 

 whatever, and satisfies us that this, or a greater quantity 

 of salt, may be infused into hay of the best of quality, and 



with the best possible effect. 



In confirmation of these facts, we have also the autho- 

 rity of Mr. Darke, of Brcedon, one of the most celebra- 

 ted graziers in the kingdom, who has mixed salt with 

 his flooded mouidy hay, 81b. of salt only to a ton, and 

 declares that his Hereford oxen did better on it than 

 others on the best hay he had ; and that he was and is 

 convinced,that the hay had all its good effect from the salt. 



bait cannot be convej'ed into the animal in a more ef- 

 fectual manner, than by sprinkling it on haythiough a 

 sieve, when in the act of putting together ; for every 

 particle is imbibed in the fermentation, without a possi- 

 bility of waste. It will, upon trial, no doubt, provo a 

 better breakfast, than those cold dews which prevail in 

 tliis country; nine months out of tiic twelve ; and vviiich 



