4*22 &quot;Cultivation of Grafs Land. Application of Manure on Hay Lands. 



of the lefs intelligent farmers, the moifture of the manure has been fo much forced 

 off and didiparrd, efpecially when there is much wind, as to leave the materials in 

 nearly a perfectly dry (rate. The fudden drying up of large ponds at fuch feafons 

 fhows in a more ftriking manner the ex tent of the injury that the farmer fufbinsin 

 choofing this feafon for the application of his manure. 



Befides, there is another way in which a vaft lofs of manure may take place when 

 applied at either of the periods that have been juft noticed, efpecially where the 

 lands lie in Hoping directions, as is frequently the cafe, which is by the heavy rains 

 in the autumnal feafon carrying down the more, fine and rich parts of the manure 

 in a Mate of folution, into the ditches and runlets, on the fides or other parts of the 

 fields. Of the great wafte of manure occafioned in this way any one may convince 

 himfelf, by attending to the (late of the water as it drains off from the higher 

 grounds into thefe places, after the land has been previoufly dreffed, as it will be 

 found highly coloured, and loaded with the enriching carbonaceous particles of the- 

 ^manure. After frofts when fudden thaws occur, the fame thing happens.* 



In fituations that will, from the natural drynefs and compofition of the foils, 

 .admit of the practice of applying the manure in the early fpring months, there will 

 be lefs rifk of wafte in thefe ways, and at the fame time more advantage obtained in 

 the growth of the produce ; as from the moderate heat and quieknefs of the vege 

 tation at this feafon the grafs will foon cover over and conceal the dung, when ap 

 plied in a proper ftate of reduction,without fuffering much exhalation to take place j 

 and the enriching material be conveyed to the &quot;roots of the grafs plants at the feafon 

 in which it can be the mod ufeful in prcmoting their growth. Where quantity 

 of produce is the principal object, and the nature of the foil will admit of the ma 

 nure s being applied without injury, this is therefore unqueftionably the moft proper 

 as well as mod beneficial time of putting the dung upon grafs lands. The earlier, 

 however, it can be performed in the feafon the better, as has been already more 

 fully exphined.f 



An agricultor of much experience and obfervation has, however, found manure 

 to produce the ftrongeft effects upon the land when applied early in the autumn, 

 or in meadows as foon as poflible after they have had the hay taken off from them.* 

 Others, likewife, fuppofe this lafl as the moft proper feafon for the bufinefs.| 



There is fcarcely any fort of manure that will not be ufeful when laid upon the 



* Se&ion on Manure, -f Ibid. 



+ Dr. ^Yilkinfon in Communications to the Board, &c. vol. III. $ Rer. Mr. Young in 



