206 OF MANURE. 



upon a bottom so extremely retentive of moisture, a great 

 part of the plants were completely destroyed in the spring ; 

 he now, therefore, always sows in the spring, either wheat, 

 barley, or oats, as circumstances permit ; along with this 

 crop, he sows grass seeds ; allows the grass to remain one, 

 two, or three years, then oats after the grass, which finishes 

 the rotation. 



This is evidently a most material improvement, altoge- 

 ther founded on the use of compound dunghills, by which a 

 soil was in a manner created or manufactured, so as to 

 render it fit, from its texture, to retain moisture and ma- 

 nure, two of the principal sources of fertility. 



2. Many farmers apply composts to fallows, more espe- 

 cially when the soil consists of thin clay, (in which case 

 the effort it makes is very great), or when the quantity of 

 lime or dung is inconsiderable. The compost should be 

 well mixed and broken, spread on the ploughed surface of 

 the fallow, and ploughed in. The fallow should get two 

 ploughings, besides harrowings, after the compost is laid 

 on, that it may be well mixed with the soil before the crop 

 is sown. 



3. Composts are peculiarly calculated for top-dressing 

 grass fields, if to remain in that state for some time, for 

 pure dung is apt to evaporate, and to lose all its substance. 

 When composts are put on grass fields, at the rate of about 

 sixty cart-loads per acre, about the month of February, 

 their effects are very great. 



On the subject of composts, the following additional par- 

 ticulars remain to be explained. 



Where no moss or peat earth can be procured, it is an 

 excellent practice, when the head-ridges, (on which the 

 plough turns, and where of course much rich earth must 

 be deposited), get high, to take off about a spade deep, 

 and to lay it up with dung and lime during the winter, to 



