1804. Thoughts on the Application of Dung. \6y 



by ancdicr man fpecially appointed for that purppfe, m fuch 

 proportions, as the poverty of the foil, or the difpofition of the 

 occupier, may judge to be neceifary. If the breadth of three 

 drills are only taken at a time, the dung Hands a better chance 

 of being regularly a-dminillered -, for it often happens, that when 

 a greater number are included in one fpacc, the two outfide 

 drills receive a lefs quantity than the intervening ones. Thofe, 

 therefore, who limit themfeWes to three drills, generally divide 

 the fpreadcrs, as it requires ^\\ hands, women or boys, to follow 

 *ip what is ufually called a head of carts ^ the number of carts to 

 the head being regulated by the diitaiicc of the dunghill, or the 

 kind of road over which it is to be carried. Others, again, 

 thinking that by manuring only three drills at one time, the travel 

 of the horfes is greatly increafed, and time walled when it is 

 particuJarly precious, t,:ke iive drills into one fpace, and, by put- 

 ting the ilrongeft hands to the two outfide drills, making thefe 

 go in front, thereby getting \h^ firil of each heap, and placing 

 an able confidential fcrvant to affill and fuperintend the whole, 

 confider that the work is equally well performed, while a greater 

 quantity is put through hands in a given time- Both plans have 

 their votaries, tho^igh I am inclined to tlvink that the diiFerence 

 betwixt them is immaterial. Tlie main obje<^s are, to provide 

 a proper bed for the dang, which is eafily doine by holding a 

 deep furrow when the drills are firft made up •, and to (liake it 

 well afunder, or divide it into the fmalldl parts, io as an in- 

 ftant and complete operation thereof may take place. To ac- 

 complifli this in the mofl: perfe^ manner, I have even feeii 

 hand work reforted to \ but the c-jmmon eullom is to do it with 

 fmall light grapes or forks 5 and it is wonderful to fee how a- 

 droitly the Spreading is performed by fmail boys and girls, after 

 they are a little time accuitomed to the talk. 



The quantity of dung ufually given for turnips is from twelve 

 to fifteen double cart loads, of one an-d a half cubic yards each, 

 to a Scots acre. In feme tafes, only ttw loads are given ; but 

 the land ought to be in high condition where fuch a fmall quan- 

 tify is bellowed . In fail, no foil can be made too rich for tur- 

 znps or other green crops, peas excepted \ but the obje61: to be 

 attended to, in this, and every other cnfe, is an allotment of the 

 manure coihcted upon the premiles, in fuch a way as that the 

 greateft poifible return over the whole farm, not from a parti- 

 cular field, may be gained by the occupier. The old clerical 

 maxim of • preaching according to the llipend,' may in this 

 matter be a£l:ed upon with advantage by every farmer. 



As to the mode of applying dung to potatoes, a few partlcu- 

 J^rj may be ftated. The culture of this efculent is in feveral 



h '\ refpeds 



