OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 185 



upon the above-mentioned foil will be the greater ; 

 upon clay, a quantity of a* lighter and more friable na- 

 ture will be found to anfwer, in opening and rendering 

 it more tractable in the operations of hu(bandry. There 

 are two .favourite modes of applying this fubftance ; 

 the firft, by drawing it on grafs land in fummer, and 

 when nearly dry fetting it on fire, and fpreading it half 

 burned and hot upon the ground, where it remains 

 until the feafon for ploughing arrives. Oats are fown 

 on ground thus prepared, the crops clean and luxu- 

 riant j an hundred or an hundred and fifty car-loads are 

 laid on an acre, according to the quality of the foil : 

 heavy land requires the greater quantity. The fecond 

 method is, to lay it on grafs ground before or in win- 

 ter, to fpread it as foon as convenient, and in fpring to 

 add a fmall portion of dung, on which potatoes are fet 

 in the lazy-bed way; and if a modern farmer can ex- 

 cufe the lazy-bed way, he may pardon it in this in- 

 ftance, both on account of the greatnefs of the crop 

 and quality of the root, as well as the mellow ftate, in 

 which it leaves the ground, and its confequent fitnefs 

 for production. Therefore, whether we confider turf- 

 bog as #n improver in itfelf, as mixed with other en- 

 riching fubftances to extend their effects, or when re- 

 duced to afhes, we (hall find it an article of confide- 

 rable magnitude in the fcale of manures. Nor need we 

 fear the ufe of it, as likely to encroach on the fuel of 

 the country j for that fpecies, which is good for manure, 

 B b is 



