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PRACTICAL STATEMENTS. 327 



/ have seen Timothy grass nearly killed by cutting close, 

 in a dry, hot time" 



Another intelligent practical farmer says : " I prefer 

 to shave pretty close, within an inch of the ground 

 when smooth enough. I still remember some proverb- 

 ial sayings of my teacher to this effect: 'An inch at 

 the bottom is worth two at the top/ l you are leaving 

 your wages behind you/ &c. Possibly, in very hot, dry 

 weather, on a dry soil, some plants might be injured by 

 a too close shaving ; but I should not apprehend any 

 harm, even then, and as a general rule I prefer to have 

 grass cut as close as it conveniently can be." Another 

 says : " Upland mowing grounds I do not like to have 

 cut close, having an idea that the hot sun and dry 

 weather which often follow the mowing season will 

 have an unfavorable influence on the roots of the grass. 

 Low and wet meadows I like to have mown close as 

 possible. There, the heat of the sun is beneficial." 

 " The height fram the ground at which it is best to cut 

 grass," says a very successful farmer, " depends on the 

 season, the soil, and the grass. No gra^s, except on 

 moist ground, should be cut so low, in a very dry sea- 

 son, as it will do to cut it in a wet season. The natural 

 grasses I like to have cut within about two and a half 

 inches of the ground. Our old fields of cultivated 

 grasses do not afford much after-feed after the clover is 

 run out ; what of stubble is left on them is lost, so I 

 like to mow close." 



One of the most observing farmers in the country 

 says: " I prefer grass cut from an inch and a half to two 

 inches, as it starts much quicker to grow, when cut at 

 that height, than when shaved close to the earth, as 

 some that are called good mowers do their work. If it- 

 is true that all crops are benefited from the ammonia in 

 the atmosphere, as I have no doubt they are, judging 



