148 Cultivation of the Grasses. 



If the farmer has a great many acres to go over, and the work 

 is to be done by hand, it will be essential to begin cutting quite 

 early in order that the later mowing be not dried up, and the heart 

 of the hay, dissipated by the withering and absorbing influence of 

 the atmosphere, but horse powers and patent mowers are now in 

 such extensive use, that no intelligent farmer will attempt a large 

 job without patronizing their superior facilities for accomplishing 

 labor. 



Early haying in June, is uncertain and "risky" as we seldom 

 have more than one or two fair days at a time, three or four acres 

 of hay cut, a part laying in the winrow, and the balance in heaps, 

 and [in this situation "weather" a week of rain, is not just the 

 thing for good fodder ; here the advantage of horse power machi- 

 nery is apparent even to "fogies," who still protest against these 

 rapidly advancing inovations (as they term them) of science, and 

 intellect, in their application to farm economy. In concluding 

 my remarks, I would observe, that the cultivation of grass is 

 productive of large pecuniary results, and the beauty of a well 

 kept lawn will not be spoken of disparagingly even by the most 

 sordid disclaimer against the inutility of non productive, garden- 

 ing. If it were not for the deep, almost perpetual verdure which 

 bedecks rural England, she would not at the present time occupy 

 so exalted a position, in suburban matters. It is her green fields 

 to which she owes, those delightful cottages, which embosom her 

 home loving people, and why do they cherish remembrances even 

 to an advanced age, of the " cot " wherein they commenced the 

 battle of life ; simply for the reason that their homes were made 

 Eden like with, grassy lawns, trailing ivy, fragrant flowers, deli- 

 cious fruits, refreshing vistas of land and water, lowing herds, 

 vast forests ; these combined, have done more, for English rural 

 life, and English education, than all the efibrts of her ermined 

 law-makers. 



(We especially recommend the perusal of Mr. Durand's article. 

 The novice, who is taking the initiatory steps, in growing grass 

 crops, can derive from it, much valuable information, as it is a 

 veritable record, prompted by experience. Our farmers in most in- 

 stances, regard the special cultivation of grapes, as something quite 

 absurd, only seeding down as a dernier resort, when other crops 

 cease to be remimerative. Mr. Durand, has paid a more than or- 

 dinary degree of attention to this branch of farming, and therefore 

 his remarks will be more valuable to the practical man. Ed. 



