WHAT CROPS SHOULD MANURE BE APPLIED TO. 239 



an:l mixing them well together. Another way for the perfect dif- 

 fusion of the manure among the particles of earth, is, to spread 

 the manure in autumn, so that all the rains of this season may dis- 

 solve the soluble portions and carry them down among the parti- 

 cles, where they are absorbed and retained for the growing crop. 



"In experiments," continues Mr. Thomas, "when the manure 

 for corn was thus applied in autumn, has afforded a yield of about 

 70 bushels per acre, when the same amount applied in spring, gave 

 only 50 bushels. A thin coating of manure applied to winter- 

 wheat at the time of sowing, and was harrowed in, has increased 

 the crop from 7 to 10 bushels per acre and in addition to this, by 

 the stronger growth it has caused, as well as by the protection it 

 has afforded to the surface, it has not unfrequently saved the crop 

 from partial or total winter-killing. 



" In cases where it is necessary to apply coarse manures at once, 

 much may be done in lessening the evils of coarseness by artificially 

 grinding it into the soil. The instrument called the drag-roller 

 which is like the common roller set stiff so as not to revolve has 

 been used to great advantage for this purpose, by passing it over 

 the surface in connection with the harrow. We have known this 

 treatment to effect a thorough intermixture, and to more than 

 double the crop obtained by common management with common 

 manure." 



TOP-DRESSING WITH MANURE. 



The term " top-dressing " usually refers to sowing or spreading 

 manures on the growing crop. For instance, we top-dress pastures 

 or meadows by spreading manure on the surface. If we sow ni- 

 trate of soda, or guano, on our winter-wheat in the spring^ that 

 would be top-dressing. We often sow gypsum on clover, and on 

 barley, and peas, while the plants are growing in the spring, and 

 this is top-dressing. 



*' If the gypsum was sown broadcast on the land before sowing 

 the seed," said the Deacon, " would not that be top-dressing also ? " 



Strictly speaking, I suppose that would not be top-dressing. 



Top-dressing in the sense in which I understand the term, is 

 seldom ad opted, except on meadows and pastures as a regular sys- 

 tem. It is an after-thought. We have sown wheat on a poor, 

 sandy knoll, and we draw out some manure and spread on it in the 

 winter or early spring; or we top-dress it with hen-manure, or 

 guano, or nitrate of soda and superphosphate. I do not say that 

 this is better than to apply the manure at the time of sowing the 



