356 Agriculture. — On Spring Pasture. 



mer for its growth, and it is, to a considerable extent, killed 

 by the frost ; according to the experiments made in England 

 with this plant, as related in Miller's Gardiners' Dictionary, 

 it appears that, even in Great Britain, the crop is so scanty, 

 as to render it an object unworthy of the attention of the 

 farmer. 



A species of vetch was recommended for a spring feed ; 

 but, by an experiment which was made, every plant was 

 destroyed by the severity of the winter, or the sudden change 

 from winter to the occasional summer heat of March. 



Excepting the winter grains, wheat and rye, I know of no 

 plant that promises so much to the farmer, for the purpose 

 of supplying his cattle with green food in the spring, as the 

 woad (isatis tinctoria.) This plant is less affected by the 

 temperature of the winter and spring months, than any other 

 plant, unless it be those appropriately called evergreens. 

 It is cultivated, so far as I have been able to learn, only for 

 the purpose of dying. 



The woad is a biennial, very little, if at all, affected by 

 the winter. It affords an abundant foliage ; which, together 

 with the upper part of the root, is readily eaten by cows, in 

 March, April and May. The woad might be sown in July 

 or August, after plowing in the stubble, and would make 

 fine green feed for cattle in March and April. After the 

 leaves and a part of the root are eaten by cattle, it will sprout 

 again ; and, probably, if eaten off in April, would be suffi- 

 ciently grown, by the last of May, to be valuable to plow in 

 as a green dressing for potatoes. This plant is extremely 

 tenacious of life, and will flourish in a meagre, sandy soil. 



A small piece of ground was sown, in June, with the seeds 

 of the woad, which was fed by cows in April. They ate it 

 very readily, and no unpleasant taste was given to the milk. 

 The experiment was made on a small scale ; the cows sub- 

 sisting on the woad but part of the time. 



It will require more experiments to determine the real 

 value of the plant as food for cattle. From the experiment 

 above related, it is abundantly proved, that it does not suffer 

 from the severest frost, its foliage n6t being injured, — that 

 its growth is merely suspended by severe freezing weather, 

 —that its life is readily extended, and that it is nutritious to 

 cattle. 



The above article is offered to agriculturists, as worthy of 

 their .attention, for the purposes above specified. 



