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Oil Grass Lays, Manures^ is'c, by Mr. John Lorain. 



Read February S, 1814. 



Philipsburg^ January 1^^, 1814. 



Dear Sir, 



If grass lays and farm yard manure were pro- 

 perly managed and applied, the productions of agri- 

 culture would be doubled ; and one half the usu- 

 al labour in the process of farming saved ; but this 

 has been little considered, and less practiced here, and 

 also in England. Both they and we know the merits 

 of a clover lay, for wheat, but it is seldom properly 

 applied ; as more than one half the roots are frequent- 

 ly hove out by frost, previous to being turned down 

 for wheat. For the lateral roots become weak, and in- 

 capable of holding the plants in the ground, more than 

 one winter, and the second year's mowing is light, and 

 the lay very indifferent for wheat. It is strange that 

 the valuable properties of clover lays, so long esta- 

 blished for wheat, have been extended to so few culti- 

 vated plants ; and that it has not led us to reflect more 

 on the value of grass lays of every other descriptiqn, 

 more especially in a new country like this, where those 

 lays have been so frequently and successfully applied 

 for the construction of gardens. The cause is obvi- 

 ous, and has been defined in my observations on corn. 

 The grasses are nature's pabulum of cultivated plants, 

 and if properly applied, will create good soil where it 

 never existed before ; and will communicate sufficient 



