Cultivation of Grafs Land. Application of Manure on Hay Lands. 42 1 



afterwards be kept up with much lefs expenfe and trouble. It is a circumftance 

 well known to grafs farmers in the beft cultivated diftricls, that when lands of this 

 fort are fuffered to get much out of condition, it is a much more difficult bufi- 

 nefs to reftore them to the proper ftate of productivenefs, than to preferve then* 

 in it. From the conftant decompofition and decay of various vegetable materials 

 on the furface of grafs lands, new portions of vegetable mould are conftantly ad 

 ded, that improve the quality of the lands, and at the fame time afford a more 

 fuitable and fertile bed for the eftablifhment of the different kinds of grafs plants. 

 It is chiefly, perhaps, on thefe accounts that old grafs lands are fuperior to new 

 ones, and it explains the reafon of the greater utility of earthy comports with dung 

 in the latter than the former cafe. 



There .has been much difference of opinion in refpect to the mofl proper periods 

 of making fuch applications; but it is obvious that it mould be regulated by cir- 

 cumflances of different kinds ; fuch as the ftate of the land in regard to drynefs, 

 the peculiarity of its fituation, the heat of the feafon, and the nature and condition 

 of it in refpect to foil and fertility. Where the nature of the lands is fuch as not 

 to admit the dung-cart in the early fpring months without the danger of injuring 

 the furface by poaching or breaking the texture of the fward, the rnoft proper 

 feafon would feem to be in the beginning of the autumn, before the heavy rains 

 fall, as at this period the manure may be laid on with the greateft convenience and 

 fafety ; and from the after-grafs being chiefly fed down with the leaft lofs in that 

 refpecl:. Some, however, recommend this operation to be performed immediately 

 after the land has been mown and cleared from the hay ; and in this method there 

 may be an advantage in fome cafes, as the growth of the after-grafs may thereby 

 be rendered more full and abundant. But on other accounts it muft often be not 

 only inconvenient, but uneconomical, as, from its happening at a feafon when 

 much other bufinefs is to be performed, it can feldom be attended to in fuch a, 

 manner as is neceffary ; and when the feafon at this period is hot, and there is 

 much fun, as in general is the cafe, there muft be considerable lofs fuftained in the 

 extrication and diflipation of the finer and more enriching particles, fuch as become 

 more immediately the food of plants from their being in a condition nearly fuitable 

 for being abforbed and taken up by the roots of the graffes. The extent of the 

 lofs incurred in this way is much more considerable than is commonly fuppofed, as 

 muft appear evident from the great exhalation and conftant evaporation that is often 

 kept up for many days, or even weeks, as the very offensive fmell that iffues fully 

 proves. In this^iftrict, where we have occafionally witnefled the practice, with fome 



