Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/455

419&#93; DkA being taken not to indulge the horse either with too much water, or moist food, DOG's-TAIL-GRASS, the Rough, or Cynosurus echinatus, L. an indigenous plant, growing in moist, sandy, or clayey soils, in the island of Jersey, and at Sandwich, in Kent 3 flowering in the month of July : its stalk seldom exceeds the height of two feet. — ^I'he mealy seeds of this vegetable may, in times of scarcity, be advantageous- ly converted into Bread. — Bech- STEiN remarks, that sheep feeding on the Dog's-tail-grass, as well as the other species of this plant, be- come remarkably fat ; and the mut- ton is of a peculiarly fine flavour, DRAGON'S-BLOOD, or San- guis^Draconis, is a gummy-resin- ous substance, imported from the East Indies, cither in oval drops, or in large grains resembling tears. The genuine Dragon's-blood is obtained from the Common Dra- gon-tree, or the Draccsfia Draco, L. — It is of a dark-red colour, free from any external impurities; and, if reduced to powder, it presents an elegant bright crimson hue. Be- ing inflammable, it readily melts in the fire, but is not aded upon by water. In a solid form, it has no sensible smell or taste ; but, •when dissolved in rectified spirit, it yields a slight degree of pun- gency, and a deep-red tinge. This drug is also soluble in expressed oils, to which it imparts a red shade, though less beautiful than that extracted from the Alkamet, Dragon's-blood is principally employed for staining (see vol. iii. p, 160) : but, being generally sold in an adulterated state, it should be remarked, that the best kind ought always to be of a granulated con- fcistence ; as the sort manufa6turcd D R A [419 into small cakes, n of an inferior' quality. — In medicine, it is at pre- sent exploded. DRAINING.— A peculiar me- thod of draining land with chalk, as a substitute for stones, has lately been practised in Yorkshire, with' considerable success. It consists merely in cutting the trenches in the usual manner, and filling them with pieces of chalk; over which is laid a thick stratum of evergreen- boughs, that are covered with the sod or earth. The extremities of the main drains are arched to a a short distance with brick-work; because the frost is apt to pulverize the chalk, and consequently the drain will be injured. — The prin- cipal advantage thence derived is, that no moss will grow on the chalk, whereas stone-drains are frequent- ly obstruQed by its growth : hence we are induced to recommend draining with chalk,, to the atten- tion of those farmers who have an opportunity of procuring that arti- cle, at a moderate expence. In the year 1792, the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &:c. awarded their silver medal to Mr. John Wedge, for his exer- tions in draining land. The limits of this article not permitting us to analyze Mr. W.'s valuable com- munication, which is inserted in the 10th vol, of the Society's " Transactions," ice. we shall only observe, that the chief advantage consists in boring, or digging holes below the bottom of the trench ; a pnidice, which, in some instances, is attended with the most benefi- cial effeds ; though it is not abso- lutely necessary, in ordinary cases. A short but interesting " Sketch of the Drainage and Impovemcnt of a Marsh," in the county of Corn- wall, by Mr, Richard Moyle, E e 2 occurs