THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 103 



for your plaster of paris, and dress with one, two, or 

 three bushels to the acre, as the tillage may require; 

 and upon your moister grounds, you may spread your 

 live, or leached ashes, in broad-cast, according to the 

 quantity you can collect; they will richly repay for 

 several successive seasons. 



Drains which convey a wash on to your mow- 

 ing grounds, are of the highest value, and now 

 claim your serious attention 5 therefore, repair, 

 mend and secure your dams ; dig or plough out 

 your drains, change their directions on to a new 

 surface, (otherwise the parts last washed will be in- 

 jured by becoming too rich and rank, and your grass 

 will come forward and lodge, and rot at bottom, be- 

 fore the other parts of your field are fit to (mow) cut, 

 and thus you suffer a two, or three-fold waste from 

 your inattention.) One gallon of water in winter, 

 from the rains and melted snows, will exceed in va- 

 lue many gallons of summer water, when applied as 

 a wash to your mowing grounds. Your barn-yards 

 being cleared as above, and your drains well secur- 

 ed, and as well directed ; your stabling and sheds to 

 receive your stock, next claim your attention. If you 

 are ready for the expense without injuring your other 

 improvements, or contracting debts, (a farmer should 

 never be in debt,) let your barn face the south, en- 

 close one rood of land, or less, (according to the num- 

 ber of your stock,) in a square form, erect low and 

 frame sheds upon the east and west sides of your 

 yard, with a single roof, that shall convey the water, 

 or rains, oft' from the yard ; let the sheds extend as a 

 side fence upon two sides of your barn-yard, from the 

 corners of your barn, with cribs, or racks, for your 

 cattle to feed. Next to good feeding, are warm and 

 dry coverings for your stock. Let your barn-yard 

 form a gentle xlescent, at or near to one corner, where 

 the heavy rains may settle ; throw into this the coarse 

 clearings of your cribs, refuse straw, buck- wheat 

 straw, &c. these will ferment^ and form a reservoir of 



