MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. 265 



supported as much stock, and in as good, if not better condi- 

 tion, as had previously required fifty; and Sir JOHN SINCLAIR 

 states, that thirty-three head of cattle were soiled from the 20th 

 of May to the 1st of October, 1815, on seventeen acres and a 

 half, of which fifty were necessary in pasture. The saving of 

 land was consequently thirty-two and a half acres. 



In the Farmers' Series of the Library of Knowledge, the 

 soiling of horses on green food is favourably noticed; and that 

 they can be supported with great health and vigour, in the yard 

 or stable, with proper management, is conceded but its "econo- 

 my, however, must depend on the proportion which it bears to 

 the price of dry food, and its convenience to the quantity in 

 which it can be spared for other cattle." The experience of 

 many hundreds of farmers is cited to show, that horses main- 

 tained for years in this manner, have neither lost flesh nor 

 strength, although there was no perceptible saving in their 

 work and that, though placed on dry food during the winter 

 season, they continued in the possession of perfect health. 



It is a most excellent plan to give some green food along with the corn and 

 chaff, before the usual period of feeding entirely on dry fodder.* The change 

 from green to dry and again from dry to green, should be (very) gradual. In 

 its commencement, the clover and tares should be cut and mixed in small por- 

 tions with straw, and a proportionate quantity of grain should be reduced. The 

 green food is then insensibly increased, until the grain is entirely omitted, and 

 the quantity of green food supplied without limitation. It should, however, be 

 cut over-night,t (late in the evening,) and given only in small quantities gra- 

 dually increased, to guard as much as possible from accidents, which may 

 arise from its succulence, from hooing.t When horses are soiled, they never 

 should get much at a time, a practice far too prevalent. 



The artificial grasses used for soiling are the same as those 

 described as suitable for dry forage or hay; but tares, where 

 raised, now take the lead, as the winter sown are generally 

 earlier ready than any of the grasses with perhaps the excep- 

 tion of rye-grass in some localities and affords a much heavier 

 crop. Soiling, when reduced to a system, requires a regular 

 succession of green crops; it is therefore advisable that winter 

 and summer tares (whenever they prove a certain crop) should 

 be sown at different periods, so as to afford a constant sup- 

 ply, both before the clover comes in and after the first crop 

 is cut off. Lucern is one of the most valuable plants for soil- 



* No animal should be fed entirely on dry fodder it is a bad practice. 



t Grass for neat cattle should be cut iti the morning is much more relished 

 and the fattening greatly expedited, if the grasses are cut fresh, frequently 

 through the day. Cattle are disgusted with grass which has been lying too 

 long before them, in the sewers or cribs, or if left in the field until withered or 

 heated, which speedily takes place. 



J Hooing may be guarded against, with care. The disease is produced bv 

 the quality, and not the quantity of food, but it is of course rendered much 

 more dangerous by an increased quantity. 



In some places meadows are mown for this purpose. 

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