12. YORKSHIRE. 137 



an altcrnacy, though not perhaps annual and 

 regular, generally takes place. 



In describing the MANAGEMENT OF MEA- 

 DOWLAND, a fourfold divifion of the fubject 

 will be requifite. 



j. Spring Management ; 



2. Haying ; 



3. After-grafs; 



4. Winter Management. 



I. SPRING MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 

 The general practice is to " eat" them until 

 Old May -day ; when the flock is transferred to 



the pafture-grounds and the meadows 



finally (hut up for hay. 



In this climature the practice is injudici- 

 ous. It throws hay-time too backward in a 

 common year. And if dry weather fet in 

 early, the ground, having no covering, is 

 parched with drought, and the crop of bay, 

 perhaps^ thereby leffcncd. 



In Surrey, and round the metropolis, 

 grounds intended to be mown are fcrupu- 

 loufly freed from ftock early in the fpring ; 

 not a fpring flioot is cropped. This is the, 

 oppofite extreme ; and, if the land will beat 

 ftock, is alfo improper. Some valuable 



fpring. 



