322 Disadvantages in cultivating Fiorin. 



such boggy acres in Ireland are taken into 

 consideration, the benefit which may be de- 

 rived by the cultivation of florin on them be- 

 comes a most important object, and entitles Dr. 

 Richardson to the thanks of his country. 



The weight of a crop of florin hay is great ; 

 probably, not less than six tons the acre. It 

 requires to be well weeded and kept clean : it 

 should seem that my friend's directions on this 

 point had not even here been duly obeyed; 

 the best specimen of florin was full of weeds. 

 I am disposed to believe the difficulty of keep- 

 ing these crops free from the intrusion of other 

 grasses is greater than has been generally sup- 

 posed, and that many experiments may have 

 failed from this cause alone. Fiorin does not 

 vegetate till late in the spring ; the early grasses 

 have from this cause a great advantage, and it 

 becomes more difficult to be kept clean. Where 

 water cannot be led over it, a weighty top 

 dressing is requisite to ensure an abundant crop. 

 Though the florin crops here were not equal to 

 some of those of the Bishop of Deny, the dif- 

 ference is perfectly accounted for, by the 

 superiority of his Lordship's soil, and the sullage 

 of.the town, with which some of his Lordship's 

 crops were irrigated. The little solicitude shown 

 by Dr. Richardson in the exhibition of his crop* 



