no 



were probably worth more than a ton of any commercial fertili- 

 zer of the present day, judging by results. Immediately adjoin- 

 ing this lot, Mr. Horton has a piece of about two acres, al- 

 though not entered for a premium, deserves a passing notice, as 

 less than a year ago it was covered with bushes and brakes, and 

 now it is in an excellent condition to seed down. Also, two 

 acres more in different stages of improvement, on which the fu- 

 neral piles were burning and smoking. 



Committee — Geo. W. Cha Iwick, Wm. A. Brown. 



STATEMENT OF JOSEPH HORTON. 



In competing for the Society's premium offered for the best 

 conducted experiment in renovating and improving waste lands 

 so as to add to their agricultural value, I offer for your consider- 

 ation the following statement : — 



The land upon which I operated was about two acres of old 

 pasture. The surface was raised into ridges and hillocks, and 

 for the most part covered with bushes. Treatment — by plough- 

 ing I leveled the ridges, and tore up the bushes, getting out ' 

 what roots I could. I then carted the whole into a pile and 

 started a fire, which I kept going until all were consumed. The 

 field was then ploughed again and seeded to grass, nine cart 

 loads of ashes, the amount obtained from the fire, being applied 

 for dressing. 



By this way of treating, I have been enabled to get one ton 

 per acre of No. i hay from land that was nearly worthless for 

 pasturing. This. method has decided merit over all others that 

 I have tried, as it thoroughly and at once clears the land from 

 all noxious growths, works the soil, leaves it in such a condition 

 that it can be treated readily and in a first class manner and, as 

 it supplies its own manure, comparatively cheap. In regard to 

 the chemical properties or value of these ashes I can give no in- 



