( h ) 



ihortened. If full blown, the fpirituous and 

 nourifhing juices are fpent and loft, the Tap is 

 impoverifhed, and the hay deftitute of that rich- 

 nefs which it pofTefles when cut early. Bur, 

 above all, it mould be mown before any of the 

 flowers begin to decay. It is impofllble to get 

 this kind of hay over-green; but care mud be 

 taken that it be well dried. Very moderate 

 care will fuffice for that purpofe, as from the 

 ftalkinefs of the plant the air has a freedom of 

 circulation when the hay is in fmall cocks. 

 But if it be laid up rather green, it will be ad- 

 vifeable to have a chimney or vent-hole, from 

 the bottom to the top of the rick, through which 

 thefuperfluous moifture may exhale ; and when 

 the heating is over, the rick mud be thatched. 

 All ricks of this hay perfectly dried ought to be 

 thatched with as much expedition as pofilble 

 after they are made. That which is put into 

 the rick perfectly dried, will cut out of a green 

 colour; but that which has been laid up over- 

 moift, will be liable to heat much, and confe- 

 quently become brown. 



Saintfoin (fo much efteerned in France, that 

 our Gallic neighbours have canonized it by 

 adding the epithet holy) is for horfcs undoubt- 

 edly the bed hay hitherto known. Many 



farmers 



