246 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



was taken off three times during the season, which shows what 

 can be done under a high state of cultivation. 



All our grass land cannot be thus highly manured or be made 

 to produce in such large quantities. But with proper attention, 

 and improving all the resources of the farm for making and 

 saving manures, no one will for a moment doubt the quantity 

 can be greatly increased, and at the same time the quality 

 greatly improved. One great difficulty arises, and that is from 

 neglect. There is a continual cropping, and nothing returned 

 to supply the waste. 



The great law of compensation requires that where there is a 

 continual taking from, there should be something added, to 

 supply the deficiency. Everything about the farm for manufac- 

 turing and composting manure, should be carefully attended 

 to, and the application be made to the grass lands, not however 

 to rob the other crops, but to give this that share of attention 

 which its importance demands. It is a common practice with 

 many, to get what they can from year to year from their grass 

 land, without doing anything to increase its productiveness, or 

 to restore its constant exhaustion. If nothing else can be done, 

 and the soil is suitable for it, let there be applied yearly, or 

 once in two or three years, a small quantity of plaster, which 

 will richly repay for the expenditure. Wood ashes, lime, or 

 some other fertilizer may be applied with beneficial results ; 

 not, however, to lose sight of the manure to be made upon the 

 farm. 



Wet meadow lands are greatly improved by drainage, and 

 the application of sand, or a sandy loam, with a further top- 

 dressing of manure ; and at the same time a sprinkling of grass 

 seed. In this way the quantity, and at the same time the 

 quality are greatly improved. I have known land that did not 

 produce enough to pay the expense of cutting the grass, that by 

 drainage, and the application of sand, was brought nnder the 

 plough, and made to be exceedingly productive ; and some that 

 was drained and top-dressed simply, that produced two boun- 

 tiful crops a year, and also of an excellent quality. Let 

 farmers who have such lands consider this subject, and apply to 

 practice wliat their own good judgment dictates. 



When the gras^ crop is grown, this question arises, What is 

 the best time for cutting, and the best mode of securing the 



