2S0 
On Fibrous Coveiing. 
results had been obtained. The experiments were repeated, and we 
acted on large quantities. Experiments were made by some practical 
and scientific members of our Society on the nutritive properties of the 
grass, and from the hay produced by fibrous covering, comparing it 
with that produced naturally from the soil, and also from artificial 
manures. The fattening properties seem to be equal, weight for weight. 
They were tried on feeding cattle, milch cows, and store stock. Ex- 
periments were extensively made during the remainder of the summer 
and autumn. 
During winter it was found the slow growth of vegetation did not pay 
the expense of the attention necessary to the process. Mr. Gurney, 
however, reported several singular facts which he had observed during 
the winter experiments. Snow was seen to lie longer on the surface 
thus operated on than it did on other parts of fields, and the soil under- 
neath was little affected by frost. Too large a quantity of straw, when 
such was used, lying in locks or heaps in summer, soon killed tlie grass 
under it ; but in winter it had no such effect. A piece of grass covered 
with too thick a layer of straw, say 3 tons to the acre, would turn yellow 
in a few days in summer. The same in winter would not change for 
months. These facts are curious, as connected with vegetable physi- 
ology. He called our attention to the peculiar analogy in the functions 
of animal and vegetable life. A torpid animal, in winter, might be 
placed under conditions with impunity, which conditions, in summer, 
would kill him immediately. The practic.al fact resulting from these 
winter experiments was, that long litter and waste straw from the farm- 
yard might be carried out and spread over the ground all the winter 
without any injury or expense of lilting; and that it would not decom- 
pose or decay, as if lying together in heaps in the farm-yard. This 
now is the practice ; and by this plan the covering is preserved and 
ready to be spread for action on the first opening of spring — a covering 
which otherwise would have been lost. 1 mention tins fact the more 
particularly because the practical objection to the working of the system 
is the want and scarcity of fibrous covering. Straw, which prol)ably is 
the most valuable and available by this process, is preserved. All waste 
from the cribs and racks is thus turned to profitable account. 
At our meeting, 25th April, 1845, the results of some interesting ex- 
periments, made with a view to determine the amount of the intluence 
of Gurneyism produced by fibrous covering, when jilaced at certain 
distances from flic surface, were communicated. I fi-nd the following 
record in my notes : — " He had supported the covering (long oaten 
straw) on light frames, elevated respectively 3 inches, 6 inches, 1 foot, 
2 feet, and 3 feet above the ground. Also at the same time he had, in 
the same field, laid some lightly on the grass. He had noticed and 
measured as accurately as he could the effect produced under the 
covering. The experiment was made on the 2()th of March, and about 
a land-yard of ground in each case was operated on, adjoining each 
other. Under the lowest covering there was soon a darker colour visible ; 
and the white Dutch clover, the usual attendant, made its appearance in 
about four days ; the outline of the ])icce was distinctly formed ; tiic 
rest followed in succession. On the ITth of Apiil the grass under the 
