426 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Spreading Manure, 



the work. In many other diftricts, carts for the purpofe arc in general ufe, and 

 conftructed fo as to render the labour more eafy and convenient, 



A very ingenious contrivance to facilitate the unloading of carts filled with dung 

 or other forts of manure, is mentioned by the author of the Perthfhire Agricultural 

 Report, as in ufe by Mr. M Donald. This improvement confifts in the box of the 

 cart being fufpended at different heights ; but can only be employed with advantage 

 in carts conftructed on a moveable frame, or what are ufually called coup-carts, and 

 where the load is to bedifcharged in feveral portions or heaps. A thin piece of iron 

 of about two inches in breadth being fixed on the fore part of the box of the cart, 

 exactly in the middle, extending in length to the top of the box, in which are 

 inferted three or four oblong holes, in fize correfponding to a rod, which is fixed 

 \vith a ftaple in the middle of the firft bar that keeps the fhafts together ; the length 

 of this rod is about eighteen inches, or longer if neceflary, as the height or length 

 of that part of the box refting on the frame may require. The top of the rod is 

 formed into the fhape of a crefcentan inch wide, with the points upwards, which 

 correfponds with the holes in the plate. When the rod is not in ufe, it is made to 

 reft on a hook in the front of the box, to prevent its dangling. When the driver 

 wimcs to unload his cart, he raifes the box, putting the rod into the firft nick, and 

 makes the firft heap, and moves on to the place where he intends to put down the fe- 

 cond, again railing the box to the fecondnick, and fo on till the whole is difcharged. 



In the fpreading out of all forts of materials on the furface of grafs lands, it is 

 neceflary to fee that the bufinefs be performed in an exact and even manner, and 

 that all the clods and lumps be well broken down and perfectly reduced by beating 

 with the fork or Ihovel. If poflible, a dry feafon ihould be chofen for this fort 

 of work, as, under fuch circumftances, it can be executed in the moft regular and 

 exact method. When the weather is wet it is an operation that can never be well 

 performed, as the materials clog round the feet and tools of the workman, and can 

 never be effectually feparated or divided fo as to fpread out with the neceflary de 

 gree of evennefs. After the heaps have been fet out, they mould not be fuffered to 

 remain fo long, as is often the cafe, before they are fpread out, as the plants under 

 neath them become blanched and tender, and great injury is done to the fward in 

 fuch cafes, all of which may be eafily avoided by fpreading as foon as poflible after 

 the manure is taken out. Inconveniences of this fort may Jikewife be avoided by 

 fpreading the manure from the carts, as is the practice in the midland and fome 

 other diftricts ; but in this method we fufpect the work can neither be executed in 

 Jo exact a manner, or with fo much economy of time to the labourer* In this 



