OM MANURES. |f)l 



most every kind ; as hereby alone a carbonized substance, 

 called the black ash, will be obtained; instead of a red 

 brick earth, of much less fertility in the outset, afterwards 

 less susceptible of its principles as imbibed from the at- 

 mosphere. 



In practice, however, as I have found more^ than once 

 on my own farm, other circumstances will govern this 

 point ; such as, the weather in drying the turf, the depth 

 to which pared, and the age of the grass ; for these points 

 have all an influence on the size of the heaps. 



4. State in which the Ashes are applied. 



Here occurs a considerable variation in common practice. Application *f 

 There are two methods; one, to spread and plough in im- the ashes. 

 mediately; the other, to spread immediately, but to leave 

 them exposed to the atmosphere some months before turn- * 

 ing in. Mr. Wedge, on the thin sand soil on a chalk l*ot- 

 tom of Newmarket heath, had- in one field a treble experi- 

 ment; part was pared and burnt in the spring, and the 

 ashes spread and exposed till ploughing in the autumn for 

 wheat; part pared and burnt late, the ashes left in heaps, 

 and spread just before ploughing for wheat ; the third pared, 

 and not burnt at all, by reason of bad weather. The first 

 was by far the best; the second the next; and the third 

 beyond all comparison inferior. This seems to be a decided 

 proof, that the ashes absorb some matter from the atmos- 

 phere, which adds to their fertilizing qualities. 



5. Application, 



The circumstances which may with propriety be touched Mode «f ap- 

 i aj i j " plying them. 



»n under this head, are, 



1st. Spreading. 



2d. Depth of tillage. 



The fact of the ashes improving more after having been 

 for some time exposed to the atmosphere was probably the 

 motive, which induced Mr. Tuke, of York, to pursue on 

 tli« wolds .of Lincoln a practice that deserves attention. It 



is 



