PEAT. 235 



hardy kinds of wild grass would work their way 

 through the sand or gravel, and entirely supplant the 

 cultivated grasses ; when the whole must have another 

 covering, or be abandoned as worthless. If to be 

 planted with corn, or any of the root crops, my course 

 has been to turn over the turf or sward with a plough 

 having a wrought-iron share or coulter, ground to a 

 sharp edge ; in the driest season, say in the month of 

 September, roll down as hard as possible ; carry on in 

 the winter a sufficient top dressing of compost, twenty 

 cart-loads to the acre ; and, in the spring, plant with corn 

 or roots, without disturbing tlie sod. When the corn or 

 roots are taken oif, the surface is made smooth with the 

 cultivator, or hoe and harrow; and, late in November, 

 or just before the heavy frosts sets in, sow with herds- 

 grass and red-top seed, half a bushel of the former, and 

 one bushel of the latter to the acre. The field is then 

 rolled, which completes the process. If the plough 

 does not turn the sods smooth, it will be necessary to 

 follow it with a bog-hoe, to level the uneven places. 

 By keeping the sod undisturbed in the cultivation, a 

 more firm and compact surface is formed, upon which 

 oxen or horses may work generally without danger 

 of miring. If the land is intended for grass, without 

 the intervention of a hoed crop, the tmf is turned over 

 with the plough, as before stated, in August or Sep- 

 tember, or as early as the surface becomes dry enough 

 to admit the oxen or horses upon it ; then follow with 

 the bog-hoe and turn over such parts as the plough has 

 left unturned ; make the whole smooth with the hoe, 

 and, late in November, spread on a top dressing of com- 

 post, not less than twenty cart-loads, made half of loam, 

 and half of stable manure, to the acre ; then soav the 

 grass-seed, and bush, and roll down. If the ground 

 be miry, so as to render the use of the plough impracti- 

 cable, the bog-hoe must be resorted to, and the whole 

 turned over by hand, and top-dressed, and seeded to 

 grass, as above stated. The cost of turning over with 



