372 



spread in the fall and raked off as early in the spring as the frost 

 would admit. That part of the lot which received the latter 

 manure was more productive than the other. From having had 

 so good a covering, the roots of the grass were kept warm 

 through the winter, and as soon as the snow disappeared in the 

 spring I noticed a more healthy appearance, and the grass came 

 forward much earlier than it did upon that part of the lot which 

 received the barn-yard manure. 



I am now breaking up and draining the other part of this lot, 

 and as soon as practicable I intend getting it into grass. When 

 that is once done, I have no doubt but we shall be able to cut 

 annually from this entire lot containing eight acres and one hun- 

 dred rods, thirty-jive tons of the first quality of hay. 



I have no means of knowing the exact quantity of manure 

 used the last year upon this land ; but when I say 100 common 

 cart-loads, I believe that it will prove more than there were." 



13. Another experiment in Tewksbury, in Middlesex county, 

 which in its progress has been entirely successful, and illustrat- 

 ing particularly the value of the wool waste, is deserving of 

 being recorded. 



" I have commenced reclaiming my meadow. On ^ of an acre, 

 which I completed two years ago, by way of experiment, good 

 English hay was cut this last season at the rate of five tons per 

 acre. 1 ditch, pare, and burn, sow on grass seeds, spread the 

 ashes and give a coat of wool waste, never touching it with 

 either plough or harrow. I use an instrument in paring, for the 

 purpose of cutting the surface into strips or slices of about 12 

 inches wide, so that the long iron plough with a broad and 

 sharp sock or share, fixed to it to cut the bottom of said slices, 

 shall easily turn them over. This instrument consists of an 

 iron shaft of about three feet long and two inches diameter ; on 

 this, at the distance of one foot apart, three sharp steel, sword- 

 shaped cutters 1\ feet long, are fixed ; in the intervals between 

 the swords, on the said shaft, two strong handles are fixed, 

 which extend back and over the cutters, say 7 or 8 feet — the 

 cattle are attached by a chain and hook to the centre of the 



