252 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Many farmers of experience consider that liquid manure is the best application for grass 

 lands, and recommend it where its application is not attended with too much expense and 

 trouble 



Salt is a valuable fertilizer One farmer of large experience says : &quot; Salt is the only top- 

 dressing I have ever used on grass-land 1 have bought a car-load of it in a year ; but some 

 years I do not use more than fifty bushels ; this is refuse salt.&quot; The quantity used per acre 

 depends much upon the nature of the soil ; from three to sixteen bushels being often used. 



Before applying any kind of fertilizer it is always well to determine, if possible, by obser 

 vation or experiment, what particular element of plant-food the soil is deficient in, before 

 deciding which is the proper fertilizer for a given crop. The farmer must learn it for himself, 

 and be governed accordingly. Barn-yard manure is supposed to contain all the elements of 

 plant-food, and hence is one of the most valuable of fertilizers. 



The use of manure frequently, in moderate quantities, is attended with better results than 

 larger quantities at longer periods. &quot;When good results are not attained with repeated appli 

 cations, it is often better to plough up the turf, and seed down. 



Lands that are enriched by the overflow of .water, such as the lands along a river-bank, 

 require but little or no extra fertilizing, as the matter deposited in this manner is sufficient 

 for that purpose. 



RENOVATING GRASS LANDS. 



WE have previously alluded to the great importance of feeding or top-dressing grass 

 lands, both the mowing lands and pastures, that we may restore the fertilizing 

 elements abstracted from the soil in producing the annual crop of hay, or by con 

 stant grazing, and thus not only improve them yearly, but prevent them from degenerating 

 and becoming exhausted, or, as farmers often express it, &quot;run out&quot; or &quot;worn out.&quot; These 

 top-dressings may be ashes, lime, guano, plaster, crushed bones, salt, or manure, etc. ; but it 

 occasionally happens that all top-dressing seems to fail of the desired effect, especially in mow 

 ing lands, which may be the result of grubs eating off the roots, or its having become turf -bound. 

 In such cases, it is usually best to plow up the turf and re-seed with grass, after well pulver 

 izing the soil, and giving it an abundant supply of manure. Many farmers resort to a rotation 

 of crops with good results. 



Drainage is of the utmost importance to wet lands, and where this has been neglected, 

 should be attended to at once. Many almost valueless lands, as far as grass production is 

 concerned, will, with proper drainage, become the most valuable and productive. Clover is a 

 wonderful recuperator of the soil, and when lands have become exhausted, will often restore 

 the elements of fertility to the extent of entirely transforming it into the richest and most pro? 

 ductive of land. We take the following extract from Dr. Harlan s work on &quot;Farming with 

 Green Manures,&quot; which may prove a benefit to many farmers who wish to renovate their 

 grass-lands without plowing 



&quot;It is a very common practice among agricultural writers to advise all persons having 

 large farms which are in a very poor condition to sell one-half or two-thirds of their land, and 

 apply all the money they receive in manuring, and improving the balance of their property. 



In rsome cases this may be the most prudent course to follow, but, as a general rule, I an- 

 opposed to this advice for two very good reasons : 



First, you can get but very little per acre for your poor fields ; and, secondly, if yoi; 

 improve your property with judgment, you can enhance its value so rapidly, that in seven 01 

 eight years it will be worth double or treble its former valuation. 



