The Uses Of A Grass Crop

The first and most important use of a of a grass erop is to preserve and if possible increase tho fertility of tho soil. These resulta are obtained in two ways : by resting the land from incessant grain-growing, and by providing a store of manure with the droppings of tho animáis led on the gras. Both as a rotation and a fertilizer, the judicioue cultivation and home consumption of grass are of immenso valué. The two phrases, " cultivation " and " homo consumption," however, mean a good deal. Seeding down while the land is in good conditiou, top-dressing if thore are successive outtings taken off, mowing at the proper season, curing in the best possible immncr, are comprehended in the former phrase, whilo feeding it all to the stock of the farm, eking it out with roots and grain to make it go as far aspossible, and using the utmost and wisest eoonomy in regard to it, are comprahonded under tho seoond phrase. Another use of the grass erop is to lossen and lighten farm labor. While in grass land needs no plowing, and in this country, whero the growing season is so short and hurried, this is a most important consideration. Every farmer should aim so to balanco and arrange tho work of his farm, that while the whole year should be consecrated to industry, there should be as few great rushes as possible. The strain of regular, moderate, systeznatic toil, is far less than that of excesaive effort now and then. Moreover, many are compelled to hiro at certain tiiues becanse of the urgency of work, that must be done just then, who on a bettor plan might dispense with the hiring to the advantage of their profits. There is also a mechanical effect of grass on soils of a certain texture. They locsen, aérate, and mellow theni. If we includo the clovers among the grasses, as we fairly may in treating of tho uses they subserve, their long tap roots are eminently serviceable in inechanically improving stifF lands. A similar influence is cxerted when sod ia plowed under. Every farmer knows into what & nice condition a soil íb brought by tho rotting of a good greensward. This would be even more perceptible than it is, if we kept onr grass lands in higher condition by top-dressings of well-rotted farm-yard manure and artificial fertilizers. Speaking still of the clovers, there is no sniall Btore of wealth in their blooms. Those of them that are accessible to " the little busy bee," as are the white and alsike varietieR, are, in this country, the great source of the honey yield. A completely stocked farm will have its apiary as well as its pig-sty, sheep-fold, and poultry-yard ; and there are none of the live stock that will yield a moro profitable return than these untiring insect workers.-