316 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



after being mixed, observing to turn the heap care- 

 fully over before drawing the compost out on the 

 field. If it is in the power of the farmer to saturate 

 the heaps with the liquid drainings from his farm- 

 yard, the value of the compost will be greatly 

 increased. 



A compost of earth, lime, and salt is an excellent 

 top-dressing for pastures, and very effectual in 

 improving the quality of the grasses. Let the heap 

 be made in layers as above described, but in this 

 case, after being made up, it must remain untouched 

 for at least six months. Then let two men com- 

 mence at one end of the heap, and turn it over, 

 carefully intermixing every portion of it, and add- 

 ing a shovel-full of lime where it may appear to 

 have been passed over lightly at the first mixing. 

 The heap will be permitted to remain for two or 

 three months longer, then turned again, begin'iing 

 at the opposite end from that \yhich was begun 

 ni)on the first time. A compost of this kind is 

 better to lie twelve months before being applied to 

 the land, so that the particles may be allowed to 

 be thoroughly intermixed, and also to permit cer- 

 tain chemical changes taking place which the lime 

 and salt will effect in connection with the organic 

 matter contained in the earth, and by which the 

 fertilizing effects of the compost will be increased. 



Calcareous manures alone, when used as a top- 

 dressing, will effect great improvements in the cha- 

 racter of pastures. We have often applied marl to 

 poor heathy pastures, and the result was that the 

 heaths and coarse bents became eradicated, their 

 place being supplied by natural white clover and 



other sweet grasses. This practice of using marl 

 alone in the improvement of poor grass lands is 

 common in some districts with which we are 

 acquainted; and sJiell sand got on the sea shore is 

 also employed for the same purpose, and with pre- 

 cisely a similar effect. Even common sand will be 

 found to improve the pasturage on poor clays. We 

 had on one occasion a very striking proof of this 

 being the case. A field of poor, ungrateful clay 

 was laid down to permanent grass, and although it 

 had been previously treated liberally, the grass 

 still was always very thin, and of extremely 

 indifferent quality. A considerable quantity of 

 fine sand was drawn and spread over the worst 

 parts of the field, and from that time the sward 

 began to improve, becoming thicker every year, the 

 bare spaces being filled up by sweet herbage, 

 which did not exist previously. 



All pastures which are eaten down by cattle ought 

 to be frequently gone over, and all the droppings 

 carefully scattered. This prevents the grasses from 

 growing in tufts, as in the case where this precau- 

 tion is not adopted, besides helping to improve the 

 pasture generally. 



An unremitting warfare must be waged against 

 weeds, and the most effectual mode of removal is 

 by digging them out. Catting them down regu- 

 larly at an early stage of their growth will weaken 

 them so much that in course of time they will die 

 out; but this is apt to be neglected until they per- 

 fect their seeds, when it is too late, and we therefore 

 prefer recommending digging out instead of merely 

 cutting down. — Irish Farmer's Gazette. 



THE BEAUTIFUL IN AGRICULTURE 



Both the art and the science of agriculture are 

 sufficiently advanced in this country to enable its 

 citizens to study and practise the Beautiful in 

 planting, and in all farming o])erations, with entire 

 success. Beauty in rural objects and scenery is 

 not confined to embellishments, but is attainable in 

 all that relates to plants and their culture, to do- 

 mesticated animals, forests, parks, fields, orchards, 

 and gardens. Nature kindly favours, and often 

 suggests agreeable features to such as have an 

 eye to see and heart to feel the charms of beauty. 

 She aids in a thousand ways to quicken into life 

 and activity the dormant taste for the Beautiful 

 placed in every bosom by a beneficent Creator. 

 To develop and cultivate this latent and prolific 

 source of enjoyment in mankind, is one of the 

 highest duties of educated persons. It should 

 prompt all to investigate the elements of beauty 

 in natural objects and in rural arts, v/hether ihey 

 relate to the vegetable, animal, or mineral king- 

 dom. With each of these grand departments of 

 Nature the cultivator has much to do; and he 

 should learn her processes and laws, from which 

 he will at length fully understand that Beanty and 

 Utility are integral parts of any wise system of 

 farm economy. 



If beauty in a country residence, in farm build- 

 ings of whatever kind, or in tillage, were incom- 



patible with anything that is useful in agriculture 

 or important in household affairs, the fact would 

 excuse the general neglect of this principle in 

 nature. But so far from being hostile to the 

 creation of wealth, or to its accumulation in the 

 hands of the owners of the soil, Beauty is one of 

 the most reliable elements of money value in 

 every species of property. In proof of this, 

 we cite the facts that a beautiful horse often 

 sells at from £70 to £120, where an ugly 

 one of the same weight and muscular power 

 will bring only a fifth of the sums named. A 

 beautiful plantation has equal advantages over 

 one quite destitute of pleasing and attractive fea- 

 tures. As society advances, and the popular ap- 

 preciation of lovely and captivating expressions 

 becomes more acute and refined, it is obvious 

 that Beauty must appreciate in cash value. In- 

 duced, not one in a thousand knows how to turn to 

 the most profitable account the intrinsic power 

 and the solid merit of the Beautiful in agricul- 

 ture. It is not, as many suppose, a mere ideal 

 matter, having no foundation in things substantial 

 and enduring; but it is a material part of that 

 perfect economy which owes its existence to the 

 Supreme Architect of the universe. Hence, as 

 planters and husbandmen, it is a jjart of our 

 highest wisdom to cultivate that faculty within us, 



