MB. JOHN JUST ON FAULTS IN FARMING. 101 



SO calculated to be beneficial; other kinds being reserved 

 for grass lands, green crops, &c. The time, too, for carting 

 out manures from the farm-yard requires thought and 

 management. Frosts oftentimes occur in February, then 

 azotised manures might be applied and spread. Frost and 

 snow can in no way injure manure, though there exists a 

 prejudice against spreading it during their continuance. 

 If they in any way can injure fresh manure on its applica- 

 tion, they cannot but in some way, and to a certain extent, 

 injure also that which has been previously spread during 

 the previous summer or autumn. 



There is also another fault connected with this part of 

 our subject common in this neighbourhood, and that is, 

 allowing the dung, after being carted out into the meadows, 

 and deposited in heaps, to remain in heaps for an indefinite 

 length of time. Sometimes this is made a matter of con- 

 venience. At other times, because the weather is dry it is con- 

 sidered necessary to wait until rain should come before the 

 heaps be spread, lest the drought should injure the manure 

 if spread during its continuance. Both notions are foolish, 

 and alike prejudicial. In the first place, a long continuance 

 of the manure in heaps, rots the roots of the grasses and 

 herbs beneath them, and thence diminishes produce; or, if 

 mere convenience of time be the object of delay, and not 

 weather, then the rains so saturate the soil below the heaps 

 with the soluble portions of the manure, and vegetation be- 

 comes so rank, that it lodges before the scythe comes to it, 

 and its quality is injured. Blanched grass grows neither 

 flesh nor blood, milk nor butter. It is from the elaborated 

 juices stored up in the green and growing parts, that animals 

 are supplied with such indispensable elements of their food. 

 Even this ought to be looked to and regarded. Our well- 

 being is in it. Animals are our deputies on the ground, 

 eating night and day to supply us with nourishment so rich, 

 that a few minutes every day may suffice for our maintenance. 



