GOOD HUSBANDRY. 73 



been kept under cover, and had never been frozen or leached, and 

 was extra of its kind. It was moderately fine, but of course from 

 its nature somewhat lumpy, and was spread over the ground to the 

 depth of about two inches. The strip was still in good bearing con- 

 dition, and the sod perfect. In this experiment if the increase of 

 crop had been represented b}' a cipher, it would not have been far 

 out of the way. I had a similar experience once before, and shall 

 not repeat the experiment. 



The best result was from stable manure one year old, completely 

 rotted, black and fine. The plot for this experiment, like the other, 

 had a perfect sod, and was in fair bearing condition. The manure 

 was spread on liberalh', more than I had been in the habit of apply- 

 ing to plowed land. The result was a good increase running through 

 two seasons, when the increase fell nearly off. Without knowing 

 certainlv about it, my opinion was, comparing it with an adjoining 

 plot under cultivation at the same time, that had the piece been 

 plowed and the same amount and quality of manure been worked 

 into the soil, the benefit would have been double, or nearly double, 

 what it was. 



From what was learned from m}' various experiments in surface- 

 dressiug land in grass, I do not hesitate to saj' that the practice is 

 attended with too much loss for the average farmer to sustain, and 

 ought to be discouraged. From other experiments, m}' conclusions 

 are, that to receive the greatest benefit from farm-3'ard manure, it 

 should be worked into, and incorporated with the soil, not very deep, 

 say from two to four, not over five, inches, and as soon after it is 

 dropped as may be. 



In favor of surface dressing, chemistry tell us that none of the fer- 

 tilizing properties of exposed manure escape, nothing but water is 

 evaporated. Without considering this point in this paper, I will 

 venture the assertion that, whether a wise choice or not, nine farmers 

 out of every ten would choose green manure just as it is ejected from 

 the animal, in preference to the same with the original moisture all 

 dried out. 



Another reason advanced in favor of top dressing is that the land 

 may be kept continually in grass. True, but it ma}' be kept con- 

 tinually in better grass, and more of it, by turning under the sod 

 after the hay crop has been taken off, putting on the same amount 

 of manure you would use for surface dressing, mixing it thoroughly 

 with the soil, and seeding down to grass. Should the autumn be 

 favorable, the young grass will get a good start, and you mB.y count 



