304 Statf, Doahd ov Agi;i(;ui.tl'i;ic, &,c. 



and iullow with a irnrden rake and make it line. If it takes 

 as long as it wonld to lioe tke same amount of land in pota- 

 toes, " tfo 7note it be ; " 6tick to it and j-oui* land will be in 

 mucli better condition than it wonld have been if you hael 

 raised and sold the potatoes. Apply top-dressing in tlm 

 spring, after haying, in the fall, at any and at all times when 

 the ground and the grass arc in suitable condition to work 

 upon, remembering that discretion and some botanical 

 knowledge arc essential to success. 



There is one consideration which I deem of iraportanco 

 in this method of applying manure, and that is that it not only 

 yields as great a present profit with less labor than it is to 

 plow extensively, but it gives a greater and more permanent 

 improvement to the land. Thus it gives us the opportunitjr 

 of " eating the loaf, and saving it for our children." 



Besides this there are many side issues of importance con- 

 nected with this method. I will mention only one. Much 

 of the manure that I have spoken of for top-dressing would 

 hardly pay for applying to plowed land ; yet on the saving 

 of these fertilizers, which are of great value wdien applied 

 to grass lands, the comfort of our domestic animals and the 

 health of our families are dependent in a great measure. 



For example : I have a large family, and live in an old 

 house. The fashionables would call it a very poor house ; 

 without modern improvements, as it is not covered with a 

 mortgage. Raising grass has raised the mortgage. But wo 

 have not had a case of fever or any malignant disease in our 

 famil}'-, and 1 am certain that the free use of absorbents has 

 been a preven'ivc ot disease. Whenever I discover the odor 

 of decaying matter I consider it a warning of approaching 



