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ON THE ARABLE LAND

544

the cool shade of the cow-house, before the violent heat com-mences, and indulging them in a feed of cut clover, this ha-zard is obviated, and the produce of the dairy augmented.—For these advantages, the country is indebted to the intro-duction of artificial grass.

But, in some instances, a more universal system of soilinghas been established. When horses have been for some timeaccustomed to green food, they do not feed so freely on thatwhich is dry, and tares and other green vegetables havebeen raised to fill up the vacancy between the first and se-cond cutting of clover, and the soiling thus continued with-out intermission, as long as vegetation is alive. The samehas been found successful in feeding both milch cows, andthose for fattening.

The advantages accruing from these practices, have beenfound very considerable. The same number of beasts aremaintained on something less than half the land which wouldhave been required, had they been allowed to tread over itwhile feeding, and gambol when filled. The farmer obtainsa greater quantity of valuable dung, which he can apply inthe most efficient manner. Cattle arc in less danger of ho-ving by feeding on cut clover, than on that which is grow-ing ; and the depredations by breaking through fences, anddestroying corn-fields, is totally avoided. The most remark-able circumstance, however, is, that the corn crop, the fol-lowing year, is in general better, on the land from which thegrass had been twice cut, than on that which had been de-pastured. But, though the smothering under a strong cropof clover, and the numerous leaves which the plant sheds onthe ground, may have this effect for one year, the groundcannot be so rich afterwards, as if all the manure that thepasturing stock left, had remained upon it *.

* These observations on soiling, are extracted from a communication writtenby John Naismith , Esq.