276 QTJARTERLy JOURNAL 



things I have ascertained by top-dressing, which may be useful for 

 some farmers to know. One is, that it is the only way to exter- 

 minate from meadows daisies and weeds, and be paid for doing it, 

 instead of paying for having it done. 



Bull's-eye or white daisy, does not grow on my meadows, after 

 the yield comes to exceed a ton and a half to the acre, except th« i 

 year following the application of the manure— the growth beinj 

 promoted for one year as much as that of other grass. 



Another thing useful to know, is, that it pays better to manure | 

 good land than poor, when in grass ; the limit being where th« 

 effect is neutralized by the grass lodging early, and rotting at thi 

 bottom — at least, such is my experience. 



As concerning the time in the year when manure should or' 

 ought to be applied to grass ground, it is, or must be varied by cir- 

 cumstances. But this much I will say, that it may be done as soon 

 after mowing as is convenient, and not later than the first of March 

 in this latitude. 



If the land be naturally wet, so that in the spring months it is 

 saturated with water, the manure should be applied as soon as pos* 

 sible after it is mowed. By so doing, the rain which falls in the 

 dry part of the season soaks into the ground, and carries with it 

 the strength of the manure, which is thus secured for the benefit of 

 the land. If on such land it be put on in the winter, the spring 

 rains float off a great part of its substance, and the effect is com- 

 paratively trifling. 



I have seen as good effects from manuring in the summer, spots 

 so wet that nothing but wild grass grew, as I have from manuring 

 land that is esteemed dry enough ; it causes red-top to grow in 

 such places most luxuriantly. 



Another case where the manure should be applied early, is where 

 the land is so poor that the grass is weak and thin. In such cases 

 it should be applied immediately after mowing, so that the grass 

 may have time to thicken up in the fall, for the year following. 

 The greatest effect from the manure will then be observed in the 

 first crop of grass. If it be put on late, the greatest effect will not 

 be observed until the second crop is obtained. Early spreading is 

 generally the best on any meadow land. I prefer unfermented 

 stable manure, with the litter undecomposed, to the same manure 

 in a rotten state j and hot, dry weather, in summer, forms no ob* 



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