MR. JOHN JUST ON FAULTS IN FARMING. 99 



of August, and then is carted out into the meadow which 

 it is intended to benefit for a second crop of hay, soon after 

 the first crop has been gathered. If the weather is moist 

 and favourable, the manure is then spread as a dressing for 

 the crop of the next summer. Another winter it has to lie 

 in the ground, idle. Could ought be conceived more absurd 

 and preposterous? Nearly two years the staple of agriculture 

 doing nothing! Just as wisely in our domestic economy 

 might we boil our meat once, and throw away the broth, 

 then boil the same again, and throw away the broth, and 

 then expect the dry fibres left to contain for our bodies 

 double the nourishment. 



Doubtless some reason is assigned for this retention of farm- 

 yard manure during so long a period of time. The reason 

 seems to be, that by spreading the manure in the summer, 

 time is allowed during the following autumn and winter for 

 that manure to get into the ground, and so be ready there 

 for action when the following spring arrives; and, particu- 

 larly, if such manure has been liberally mixed with straw 

 or vegetable litter, this might become so adherent to the 

 surface of the ground daring the lapse of so long a time, 

 that when the following hay harvest arrives, it might retard 

 the scythe in its operations, and rake up along with the 

 hay, to injure the quality of the same. Whereas, if the 

 same manure were spread out during the spring months, 

 it would neither have time to get into the ground before 

 the hay harvest, nor would the straw and litter be con- 

 nected with the surface of the ground, so as to be out of 

 the way of the scythe and the rake, but would most of it re- 

 turn again to the farm premises, to the no small detriment of 

 the produce. If the action of manure depended upon the 

 condition of its being introduced into the soil, then the first 

 part of such a reason might be admitted. But the fact is, 

 it does not; and therefore there can be no use in such a mode 

 of application. And as to straw and litter, there is no need 



