chieflij as regards the Production of Meat. 421 



is a corresponding increase in branches and leaves above. During 

 the present spring (1874), many farmers, however, top-dressed 

 their pastures with special manures, but May proving a dry and 

 ungenial month, no benefit whatever seemed to accrue from the 

 application, and a remarkably droughty June did not mend 

 matters. 



Three years ago, I remember walking over the farm occupied 

 hy Mr. John Tinning, at Oakbank, when I was much struck by 

 the verdant appearance of a plot of ground of about seven acres, 

 which on closer inspection I found to be clothed with luxuriant 

 herbage of clover and other nutritious grasses. Enquiring the 

 cause of the healthy aspect of the plot, it was explained that 

 the part which I was admiring was originally the worst in the 

 pasture, producing very little but a kind of coarse grass which 

 nothing but extreme privation would tempt the most unpam- 

 pered ox to eat. By way of experiment, 300 loads of compost 

 were applied at the back end of the year, and this dressing 

 was followed up by one of half a ton of ^-inch bones per 

 acre in the succeeding spring ; the ground was then thoroughly 

 harrowed and consolidated by means of a heavy stone roller, and 

 the result was the growth of the superior grasses which arrested 

 my attention. This is one method of improving grass lands 

 which cannot fail to give satisfaction, that is, where material is 

 within reach. 



Indirectly, grazing lands may, and in many cases now are, 

 much improved by the use of extraneous food for stock. By 

 allowing cattle a few pounds of oilcake per day, the rough herbage 

 gives place to one of finer quality, and of more rapid growth, 

 while cattle and sheep thrive better upon it. Some farmers are 

 now in the habit of wintering sheep upon the pastures, giving 

 them corn and cut turnips : this is a practice worthy of the 

 highest commendation, inasmuch as land so treated grows a 

 much better quality of herbage, and more of it, for many years. 



There is no doubt that meadows are still the neglected por- 

 tions of a large number of holdings. Many are mown year 

 after year without any compensation being given, in the shape 

 of manure : and so the grass they produce is of verv small 

 bulk, and of poor quality. It has truly been said that " the 

 scythe is the greatest robber that comes upon the farm." To 

 compensate for what has been taken away in the shape of 

 hay, manure should be liberally bestowed, so that the suc- 

 ceeding crop may be increased, and the manure-heap swelled in 

 return. In the vicinity of towns, much manure and also other 

 sorts of refuse may be obtained, which are admirablv adapted 

 for the purpose, but fertilizing substances are not so easy to 

 command in more remote districts. As with pastures, one 



