32G 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



upright position, have two pieces of wood pointed at 

 the ends, and about two feet long, driven, one into the 

 ground at each end of the sole, and which are for the 

 purpose of firmly securing it in its proper position, and 

 for this end they should be well driven home. 



The soil may now be returned to the pit, taking care 

 not to return more than 2 inches at one time, and also 



that it is filled and beat down in a regular and level 

 manner. The beating is best performed with the com- 

 mon rammer, such as country carpenters use for solidi- 

 fying the soil around a gate post ; but its efficiency may 

 be much improved by having an iron sole of some 

 weight fitted on the broad end. W J. Moscrop, 



Forest Farm, Great Ribston, Wethcrby. 



TOP-DRESSINGS FOR PASTURES. 



4. — Lime. 



The very extreme solubility of lime in water renders 

 the pulverized condition of the substance to be unfit as 

 a manurein the top-dressing mode of application, though 

 in some cases of particulsr situations very considerable 

 benefits have been derived from the use of lime spread 

 over the surface of pasture land. But it is preferred to 

 place the incinerated lime in a large heap, and to turn it 

 over two or three times in order to effect the complete 

 pulverization of the cinders, and to convert the con- 

 dition into a mild state of earthy-coolness. More than 

 a year will be required to produce tliis condition, which 

 may be judged when the heap is turned over. The 

 lime is then spread over pasture lands as a top-dressing 

 at the rate of forty single cart-loads on^an acre, in the 

 season of late autumn or early spring, bush-harrowed 

 and rolled by the time of the grass rising in the spring. 

 Lime has the certain eflect of bringing into existence an 

 herbage of finer grasses, and of banishing the old pas- 

 turage, and the use is very beneficial on the surface of 

 moor lands that are to be brought into cultivation. On 

 thin coarse pastures the advantages of lime are con- 

 siderable, but such grounds are generally placed in up- 

 land situations and under wet climates, and as the ex- 

 treme solubility of lime in water still attaches to the 

 substance, the preference is established to use the lime 

 in an earthy compost, of which the terrene portion im- 

 bibes and retains the caloric of the lime, and forms a 

 warm bed for the roots of the grass plants. The com- 

 post is also cheaper than the lime, and is not so soon 

 carried away by water. For these reasons, earthy com- 

 posts have superseded the use of lime as a manure for 

 top-dressing pastures. 



5. — Gypsum. 

 Sulphate of lime, or the earthy base, is the combina- 

 tion with sulphuric acid, in nearly equal thirds, of lime, 

 acid, and water. It is found in various forms and con- 

 ditions, as an accompanying bed of the new red sand- 

 stone formation, which covers the coal measures, and 

 also in the tertiary formation which lies above the chalk. 

 The water, not the acid, is expelled by the strongest 

 heat of the furnace, and raw gypsum is pounded and 

 reduced into a coarse meal. The calcined condition 

 speedily absorbs water, and forms a paste, and hence 

 tlie great use in forming busts and statues. In no con- 

 dition has gypsum yet been found of much use as a 

 manure : the water and the acid are held in a way that 

 prohibits any useful application of the substance. The 

 only benefits, and these very small, have been derived 

 from dressing young clovers with powdered gypsum ; 

 beyond this very moderate advantage, no recommenda- 

 tion has appeared. 



G. — Soot. 



Condensed or embodied smoke is a clammy, earthy, 

 volatile matter arising with the smoke by the action of 

 fire or combustible bodies, and condensed on the sides 

 of the chimneys. Though once volatile, it cannot be 

 aga'm rosolved into vapour. It lias escaped perfect 

 combustion from insuflScient contact with vital air, and 



may be burned again ; and the black and brownish 

 colour arises from an oil that is burnt and half reduced to 

 a state of coal. The dilTerent qualities and appearances 

 arise from the nature of the inflammable substances, 

 and the manner in which they are burnt. The great 

 basis of its composition is charcoal in a state capable of 

 being rendered soluble by the action of oxygen and 

 water. A slight portion of fibrous matter is volatilized 

 by the fire, and again occurs in the soot. Carbonated 

 ammonia occurs with a black carbonaceous matter, 

 giving a strong pungent smell, with the touch of quick- 

 lime. It affords a brown extractive matter, of a bitter 

 taste, and some ammoniacal salts, and also an em- 

 pyreuraatic oil. The soot produced by the combustion 

 of coals is usually reckoned better in quality than from 

 wood or peat ; and soot from kitchen chimneys, which 

 is impregnated with the affluvia of cooked victuals, is 

 better than from other chimneys. But experience does 

 not sanction any difference in that way. 



Soot is a very powerful manure, and surpasses all 

 other substances in giving a healthy hue to young plants 

 of grain, clovers, grasses, and legumes. 



The chief application is on young grains, in the 

 spring, which it never fails to invigorate most amazingly. 

 On clovers the effect is very surprising, and the writer 

 of this article succeeded in fully doubling the crop of 

 winter tares by the use of 40 bushels of soot on an acre, 

 which costs about ^'1. On pastures the effects of soot 

 are great, and may be sown by hand over the surface in 

 the autumn or spring in the number of 40 bushs. to an 

 acre. The quantity of herbage is much increased, and 

 the quality of the grass invites the grazing animals be- 

 yond any other beverage that can be off'ered. Soot can 

 only be got in the ^ i^: nity of large towns, and the effects 

 last only for one year. The volatile properties sooa 

 vanish, and the earthy base is very easily soluble. 



7. — Coal Ashes 

 Contain lime and magnesia, the chief ingredients being 

 silicious and aluminous earths, which vary much in the 

 nature and proportions ; also some iron, much carbonic 

 acid gas, and carbon and hydrogen. The ashes require 

 to be bruised into powder by mallets, and spread on 

 grass lands, as top-dressing, in March and April, at the 

 average rate of CO bushels an acre in moist weather, 

 where the effects are very great, and generally certain. 

 Ti'.e calcareous matters contained in the ashes impart 

 the warming and sweetening quality that is attached to 

 all residual substances from combustion, and accordingly 

 the use of coal ashes and of all alkaline matters is always 

 recommended on sour pasture that produces sorrels, 

 rushes, and mosses, in order to banish these plants by 

 depriving the land of the peculiar properties necessary 

 for their production. The value of coal ashes is very 

 considerable, but can only be obtained in the neighbour- 

 hood of large manufactories. 



8.— Mud 

 Is (he sediment, slime, or uliginous matter found in the 

 bottom of ponds and of all stagnant waters, and is 



