Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/261

M O W 5. The grass being mown together with the straw, the quantity of the latter is increased, while it be- comes of greater value as fodder. Lastly, the grass produced on fields which have'been mown, vegetates with increased luxuriance, and fur- nishes excellent pasture for cattle, and particularly for cows, when the harvest is closed. Hence D u Hamel infers, that a farmer may, by this practice, not only keep a larger number of cattle, but at the same time save his hay, and obtain a greater quantity of dung. It may probably be objefted, that, if a wet harvest should occur, ■mown u'heai will sprout more speedily than that which is reaped. This injury, however, may be ef- fectually prevented, by disposing the sheaves triangularly, so that the head of one may rest upon an- other. The only requisite to cf]b6t tliis, is a little dexterity in closing the triangle, so that tiie basis of the third sheaf may serve to sup- port the heads of the first and se- cond. We cannot conclude this article, without noticing an easy method, by which the operation of moi^ing may be gi'eatly facilitated. Ac- cordina: to the present mode of cut- ting grass, the workmen trace hi'o parallel lines with their feet, which tiiey move forward alternately, af- ter every stroke of the scythe : in- stead of which, Du Ham EL recom- mends the mower's path to be traced only in a single line; be- cause he ought to advance v^'ith one foot before the other, in such a manner that the left (which is behind), should always forward the right foot. This simple practice deserves' commendation ; for the labour will not only be performed ti'ith more speed, but likewise with M U D [230 greatev* ease to the movv'crs, wha ■■. will/ thus be secured from those sudden cramps in their left sidss, with which they are frequently- seized, in the prevailing system of using the Scythe. Mucus. See Nostrils. MUD, the slime or miry earth, usually found at the bottom of ponds, and stagnant waters. It also signifies the dust or dirt of streets and roads, rendered fluid by rain. Mud is chiefly useful as a ma- nure for loamy soils ; though it may also be applied with advan- tage to any other land. The best kind is that taken from ponds which have received the draining of farm-yards. The sweepings of London streets have likewise been found of considerable service, when mixed with a little horse-dung, in order to ferment, before it is car- ried on the land. Thus prepared, it has been spread in the propor- tion ot ten or twelve loads per acre, and been productive of the most beneficial elrecls. — See Ma- nure. MUGWORT, or Artemisia, I-. a genus of perennial plants, com- prising 40 species, five of which are indigenous : among these, the following are the principal. 1. The viaritima. — See Worm- wood, the Sea. 2. ThGAhinihium, IMugwokt, CoMMONfWoRMWOODjOr WOKM- wooD-SouTHERNWooD, growing on road sides, rocky places, and on rubbish; it flowers in Au- gust, — This herb is extremely bit- ter ; and, if it be infused in wort, as a substitute for hops, it ren- ders the ale very pernicious to health, on account of its intoxi- cating effeds. — On distiUing the leayei and flowers, they yield a cou-