&10 CULTIVATION OF GRASSES, 



There are some artificial grasses which are not legumin- 

 ous. Burnet is of the family of Rosacece: it has the ad- 

 vantage of thriving in calcareous soils. 



The wild endive, and, indeed, the leaves of almost any 

 plant, are susceptible of being cultivated for forage ; ex- 

 cepting those which have either milky or astringent jai- 

 ces, such as the leaves of the fig, or the oak : cattle will 

 not eat them ; or at least not unless they are mixed with 

 a considerable proportion of good forage. But without 

 cultivating them as grasses, the young leaves of the ash, 

 the willow, and the acacia, gathered from the tree, make 

 very wholesome food for cattle. 



Emily. In Italy, the cattle are very commonly fed on 

 the leaves of trees ; and I have often observed, with ad- 

 miration, the industry of the Tuscan peasants, who collect 

 green weeds, the clippings of hedges, and the leaves of 

 trees, in order to supply their cattle with food. 



Mrs. B. The small size of the Tuscan farms, which 

 seldom exceed fourteen acres, do not admit of meadow 

 land, excepting the grass walks with which they are inter- 

 sected. The nearer we approach the tropical climates, 

 the more we find meadows, both natural and artificial di- 

 minish : the climate becomes too hot and dry for the cul- 

 tivation of grasses. 



We have observed, that there are some species of.plants 

 which afford food, both to men and cattle. These are the 

 class of tuberous roots, which constitute one of the most 

 valuable of the gifts of nature. The potatoe, the turnip, 

 beet, and carrot, all belong to this class. Were these 

 vegetables cultivated only in quantities sufficient to sup- 

 ply the wants of the human species, they would be con- 

 sidered as a most valuable acquisition, by varying, in a 

 salutary and palatable manner, our stock of vegetable food. 

 But when produced in such abundance that it is applied 

 also to the sustenance of cattle, it not only extends the 

 benefit to a lower order of beings, but furnishes, in case 

 of need, a store of food for man ; the accidents which in- 

 jure the crops of corn being seldom hurtful to tuberous 

 roots. 



1838. And of burnet! 1839. And of endive'? 1840. Wha* 

 leaves may be cultivated for forage, and what ones may not! 1841. 

 Of meadows in tropical climates what is said'? 1842. What tuberous 

 roots are mentioned and what is said of them! 1843. If raised in 

 great abundance, what is the consequence! 



