I • farmers'miscellany. 277 



jections in me to applying it immediately. In the dryest weather, 

 the grass will soon spring up through the manure, when it will not 

 grow at all on the parts adjacent. 



The manure should be spread very evenly over the ground j if 

 lit be long manure, it should be shaken fine off the fork. There are 

 but few hired men who are willing to perform the work aright. 



I have used earth from the road-side, swamp manure, swamp 



manure with leached ashes spread on it after it was applied to the 



jland, and leached ashes alone for top-dressing, of which the swamp 



manure and ashes together produced the greatest effect, being fully 



equal to stable manure, and will no doubt be much more lasting. 



The rich earth from the road-side, on the second year, more than 



four times paid for its application. Ashes alone show a decided 



good effect. The swamp manure alone has been on for two years 



|(vithout having effected much change — I suppose, because of its 



j.nsoluble state, and the grass roots not having got hold of it — but 



i[ do not despair of its ultimate good effects. I think that, as a 



jtanure, it should always be applied to the surface, that it may be 



dissolved by the gases that float in the atmosphere, aided by the 



i'oots of the grass when they have taken possession of it. I know 



l:hat it is extremely favorable to the growth of timothy when it is 



bnce appropriated to its use, and that the crop is maintained for a 



ong time. Rich earth, from the sides of the fences, where it has 



jeen washed or ploughed in, would be excellent for top-dressing; 



jiever mind if the bushes are killed by it. In top-dressing with 



stable manure, I make it a point to sow plaster upon it as soon as 



|[ can after it is applied, and the more manure I put on the more 



blaster I sow, more being required to arrest the ammonia in its 



;scape. 



As I do not think that mowi.ig without manuring necessarily 

 mpoverishes the land, and as I think that my meadows are rich 

 imough, I shall hereafter depend on clover, and top-dressing with 

 my substance that will lighten the surface soil, to kill the moss 

 md renew the grass. 



As an instance of the effect of clover, I will mention that I know 

 . meadow which twenty years ago was a barren waste — the soil 

 leavy, and the water, in the spring months, escaped from it by 

 lowing over its surface — no grass grew upon it. It was summer 



