MAY. 259 



seme years, a gentleman in Strathern, of superior 

 knowledge, eats them the first year with sheep : by 

 this they are rendered thick, close, and durable. 



To let heavy cattle in the first year, does mis- 

 chief which demands years to recover says another 

 person. 



If mown for hay, it should be cut early ; for no- 

 thing is worse for new layers than the grass running 

 to seed. 



Mr. Wright, of Ranby, pastures them with beasts 

 the first yeaf, as sheep do harm. 



Dr. Wilkinson compared sheep-feeding with 

 mowing experimentally, and the superiority of the 

 former wa-s very great. 



The Marquis of Rockingham seeded them the 

 first year. 



Colonel St. Leger fed the two first years with 

 great success*. 



I have practised all these methods ; the last but 

 one, merely for gaining the seed for other lands ; 

 and I have not the least doubt upon the question. 

 If the grass be kept unfed in autumn, and it be not 

 turned into too early in the spring, sheep do no 

 harm, but much good : the number should not be 



* Though I have little doubt that feeding is the right manage- 

 ;t, yet it is not to be concluded that, with mowing, the grass 

 will not siuxx'cd : Lord Rockingham's new lays, viewed in the 

 ;iu* train of the first year, were among the finest that have been 

 ^eenj they were manured, however, the autumn after sowing, 

 which is admirable management, provided the soil is found, and 

 the. season very dry. 



S 2 6O 



