14b ' MEADOWS. 



MEADOWS. 



The lands which are most proper to remain in grass, 

 and which, if in a state of tillage, ought to be converted 

 into grass, are the following, viz. 



1. Lands in the vicinity of largo towns, where manure 

 is plentiful, and where hay is always in demand, and 

 consequently dear. 



2. Lands situated near rivers or brooks, which are 

 capable of being improved by irrigation. 



3. Lands i;ying in the vallies of hiiiy countries ; where 

 old meadow land is scarce and valuable ; and where the 

 p;rea{er part of the tillage land is of such a nature, that 

 it is almost impossible to convert it into good grass lan«j. 



4. All cold, strong grass-lands, which, if ploughed up, 

 would be inapplicable to root crops, and to the purpos- 

 es of modern liusbandry. 



The generality of farmers, in this country, mistake 

 tncir interest, by having too large a proportion of their 

 lands in grass, for mowing. Half the usual quantity 

 with the best management, would produce as much hay 

 as they need, a great deal more than they commonly 

 get; besides saving them expense and much hard labor. 

 I'armers shoald study tlieir own ease, pleasure and pro- 

 fit, by fitting a small piece of meadow so as to yield them 

 a sufliciency of hay. An acre, at two mowings, can be 

 made to yield four tons of hay, and at this rate, ten 

 acres would yield sufficient for a hundred acre farm. 

 The greater ease, and saving of expense, in gathering 

 forty tons of hay from ten acres of tine smooth meadow, 

 instead of, perhaps, twenty-five of rough meadow, ought 

 to induce a farmer to improve a part of his meadows, to 

 answer in place of the whole. 



Bog-meadows, if well drained, and manured with up- 

 land earth, will produce prodigious crops of herds-grass, 

 &.C. Where moss prevails in gniss-ground, that is not very 

 Wet, apply a heavy sharp toothed harrow ; strew sonie 

 seeds of herds-grass, or other good grass, over it, and 

 give it a good dressing of a mixture of sheep dung and 

 sand, or other warm manure that is suitable to a cold 

 soil/' There is no danger of destroying tiie roots of gra^s 

 by this operation. 



Land should never be laid down to mowing, that has 

 been exhausted by cropping. It is always advantageous 



