No. "112.] 585 



it be sown thick enough, to make the hay fine and be cured in the 

 cock. 



Composting is beginning to receive considerable attention. A 

 considerable number are beginning to draw muck out of the 

 swamp to add to their farm-yard manures. Some are mixing spent 

 tan with lime for compost, by way of experiment. I regret that 

 I am not informed of many of the various modes that our far- 

 mers are using for composting. I have been shown crops growing 

 on lands where composts had been applied, where the crops pro- 

 mised very abundant. 



Draining of land is beginning to receive attention . A iiew have 

 commenced blind draining, most, however, make open drains. 

 All agree as to the value of draining. 



J^ew grasses and grains. — Three years last spring, I received a 

 small package of Italian rye grass seed from the patent office, 

 which I sowed in my garden. The next season, gctthered about 

 two quarts from it. This seed J sowed last spring on ground that 

 had rye on it. The rest of the field I seeded wiih cJover. It all 

 came up well. The rye grass outgrew the clover considerable, 

 and after the hard frosts killed the clover, the rye grass continued 

 green and beautiful for a long time. I think this grass will prove 

 a valuable addition to our other grasses ; it starts before any 

 others do, and grows up quick after it has been cut off. It can 

 be cut at least twioe in a season. I was told by a Scotchman liv- 

 ing in our place, who was a considerable farmer, that before the 

 jye grass was introduced in that country, tlie farmers could 

 scarcely pay the rents, but, after its introduction, they immedi- 

 ately began to grow rich. He said he thought this country admi> 

 rably adapted to its growth. 



The specimens of imp(»rted seeds you sent me la?t spring, were 

 all sown in a small garden with great care, Init the stvert- hail 

 :Storiu we had* on the 22d of June, cut them all down aud a]jpa- 

 rently destroyed theui ; however, a jH>rtion of tlwrn sprouted up 

 again, and I saved 6ome sex^l. The scotch lluur oats were rt mark- 

 ably fine, the seed being tully equal to that sov\n. It grew about 

 a f(X)t talh.T than the English or FrencJi vaiicty did. The two 



