Chap. VIII. O F M A N U R E S. 33 



This fhould be done early enough to give the plants fufficient time 

 to piitrify thoroughly before the grain is lowed : other wife it might 

 prove prejudicial, by bringing on a heat which would hurt the corn. 

 All kinds of fea-weeds are a moft profitable manure to be plowed in. 

 <• Rotten vegetables of mofb forts, fa)'S Mr. IVIiller, greatly enrich 

 land : fo that, where other manure is fcarce, thcfe mav he ufed with 

 great fuccefs. The weeds of ponds, lakes, or ditches, being dragged 

 out before they feed, and laid on heaps to rot, will make excellent 

 manure ; as will moft other forts of weeds. But wherever any of 

 thefe are employed, they (liould be cut down as foon as they begin to 

 flower: for if they are fuffered to Itand until their feeds are ripe, the 

 land will be filled with weeds, which cannot be deflroyed in two or 

 three years; nay, fome kind of weeds, if they are permitted to fland 

 fo long as to form their feeds, will perfect them after they are cut 

 down, which ,may be equally prejudicial to the land : therefore the 

 fureft way is to cut them down jufl as they begin to flower; at which 

 time moft forts of vegetables are in their greateft vigour, being then 

 llronger and fuller of juice, than when their feeds are farther ad- 

 vanced : fo that at that time they abound moft with falts, and there- 

 fore are more proper for the intended purpofe. In rotting thefe 

 vegetables, it will be proper to mix fome earth, mud, or any other 

 fuch like fubftances with them, to prevent their taking fire in their 

 fermentation ; which they are very apt to do, when they are laid 

 in large heaps, without any other mixture to prevent it: and it will 

 be proper to cover the heaps over with earth, mud, or dung, to de- 

 tain the falts ; otherwife many of the finer particles will evaporate 

 in fermenting. When thefe vegetables are thoroughly rotted, they 

 will form a lolid mafs, which will cut like butter, and be very full 

 of oil, which will greatly enrich the land. 



Another manure, greatly, and very properly recommended by this 

 gentleman, is rotten tanner's bark. Oak-bark, lavs he, after the 

 tanners have ufed it for tanning of leather, when laid in a heap, 

 and rotted, is an excellent manure, efpecially for Itiff cold land; in 

 which one load of this manure will improve the ground more, and 

 laft longer, than two loads of the richeft dungs. It is better for 

 cold ftrong land, than for light hot ground, becaufe it is of a warm 

 nature, and will loofen and feparate the earth ; lb that where this 

 manure has been ufed three or four times, it hath made the land 

 very loofe, which before was ftrong, and not eafy to be wrought. 

 When this manure is laid on grafs, it fliould be done foon after 



F Michael- 



