TOP-DRESSING. a UANO. WA GS. 189 



The grass is mowed for hay for a longer or shorter course 

 of years ; sometimes broken up after one or two seasons, 

 sometimes becoming permanent or perennial pasture, and so 

 running on indefinitely ; and sometimes being mowed for a 

 number of years. One field I saw that had been mowed 

 eight years, and having received a dressing of 30 cwt. of 

 bones, promised fair yet to bear heavy swaths. Mowing 

 lands are usually top-dressed at the end of the second year, 

 and afterwards every second or third year. All the home 

 stead dung is commonly reserved for this purpose, and all 

 other manure is purchased from the towns. Guano for tur 

 nips and wheat is coming into general use ; some think very 

 profitably, others have been disappointed. For wheat, it is 

 applied at the seed sowing, and sometimes again as a top 

 dressing in the spring ; but in a dry season it is thought that 

 this second application has done more harm than good. 

 Guano has been a good deal tried as a top dressing for pas 

 tures, and it has been said to improve the quality of cheese 

 when so used. The immediate effect upon grass, when ap 

 plied in the spring, is always very advantageous ; but later 

 in the summer, particularly if the season is dry, the good 

 effect disappears, and sometimes the result is unfavourable. 



Of course the round of crop varies according to every 

 farmer s notion. What I have described is as common as 

 any, though not probably among the best farmers. Another 

 crop is beans, which is introduced between either of thpse 1 

 have mentioned, sometimes at the head. Not uncommonly 

 the first crop is wheat, the ground having been summer fal 

 lowed. Wheat is drilled or sowed broadcast ; most commonly 

 sowed in this county, and is either ploughed or harrowed in, 

 opinions varying as to which is best. My own experience on 

 a stiff soil is decidedly in favour of ploughing in. 



Labourers. Wages, as they have been reported to me, 



