Beneficial to Sheep. 47 



finest meadows in England. Burnet, when in mixture, 

 is eaten as close as any other plant. Half a bushel 

 (burnet weighs 25 lb. to 26 lb. per bushel) should be 

 sown in mixture with either trefoil or ryegrass, or with 

 other grasses, for permanent pasture. If sown by itself, 

 one bushel should be used, and it should always be sown 

 broadcast, though, I may observe, he gives no reason for 

 doing so. Burnet is ready for sheep at the beginning of 

 March, and is throughout the year of considerable value. 

 It is not only a preservative against rot,. but a cure for 

 it, if only in the beginning of its progress. Cows eat 

 burnet freely, if not old and sticky, and it gives butter 

 an agreeable flavour. In general, all cattle eat it 

 readily when young, and to profit, but not when it is in 

 bent. It is very advantageous for sheep in general. 

 Anderson is again quoted by Young as follows : — " I 

 have put sheep that scoured into a burnet field, and they 

 have soon been visibly benefited. I would earnestly 

 recommend to all farmers to intersperse some of it in 

 every field sown for permanent pasture." One acre of 

 burnet was sown on a part of a field the rest of which 

 was turnips, and the following March fed with sheep, 

 who preferred the burnet, and the acre was thought 

 equal in consumption to any acre of the turnips. It was 

 observed in Stafi'ordshire that as a meadow grass it 

 preserves the hay from overheating in the stack. Hay 

 of meadows which contain a considerable portion of 

 burnet comes out of a fine green colour, while other hay, 

 equally well made, but without this plant, overheats, 

 and comes out quite brown. 



After having written on chicory and burnet at great 

 length, Arthur Young proceeded to remark on " some 

 other plants which may be found to answer as artificial 

 o-rasses." None of these seem to have met with much at- 

 tention in England, but as Government experimental farms 

 will probably be started here, as they have been by every 

 known civilised Government except our own, it may be 

 useful to note what Arthur Young says regarding them. 



