224 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. rill. 



method of managing this, is, to make it rather 

 more than half dry, and then mix it intimately 

 with fresh old straw, and put it up into a stack. 

 It will, in this state, make excellent winter food 

 for cattle. 



The mode of winning hay is not uniform ; 

 but is generally regulated by the kind and na- 

 ture of the grass, and the state of the weather. 

 Sometimes hay from the seed, such as clover 

 and rye-grass, is allowed to ly in the swathe for 

 a few days after it is cut ; and then, if the wea- 

 ther has been, and still continues to be dry, it is 

 put into large cocks or trarnp ricks in the field. 

 Others, after allowing it to remain in the swathe 

 for a short time, either turn it over or spread it 

 out on the morning of a dry day, and, on the af- 

 ternoon, put it into large cocks ; after which, 

 as soon as it is judged sufficiently dead, it is 

 brought to the barn-yard and stacked. The for- 

 mer method requires less labour ; and, therefore, 

 when circumstances will permit, ought to be pre- 

 ferred. But should it meet with much rain in 

 the swathe, and should it, at the same time, con- 

 tain a large proportion of clover, it will be ne- 

 cessary, at all events, to spread it out. In such 

 circumstances, should it be allowed to continue 

 long in the swathe, it would come so close toge- 

 ther, that the air could not easily penetrate it : 

 It would become yellow, and lose its flavour be- 

 fore it could be dried. Repeated showers, or a 

 long continuance of heavy rains, will do less 

 harm to hay when spread, than when lying in 

 the swathe, or in small cocks. 



Natural grass, or meadow-hay, from its soft- 

 ness, and consequent, closeness, vrhen thrown off 



