244 CORRESPONDENCE. 



winter. My land is somewhat low and rocky, and 

 cannot be easily ploughed. Yours, ^ 



Leominster^ Oct. 2, 1839. 



We lose some of the virtue of manures, when we 

 spread them on grass-lands, in consequence of evapora- 

 tion ; and the longer the land has lain in grass, the 

 more we lose, because the sward has become more 

 compact, and will not readily suffer the compost to be- 

 come incorporated with it. We have sometimes put 

 compost on to grass-lands that were rather dry, and 

 that had not been ploughed for many years, and we 

 could see but little benefit arising from the application. 

 Some have 'lately recommended spreading it on im- 

 mediately after mowing. We see no good reason for 

 this. It is usually as dry weather at that season as at 

 any in the year, and Ave cannot fail to lose much by 

 evaporation. 



Some prefer the fore part of May for this operation, 

 and calculate on the rapid growth of the grass to cover 

 up the manure. We have more than one objection to 

 this practice. We have no leisure at this time ; we 

 have no manure ready unless it was prepared the year 

 before, and if prepared, it should have been put on 

 then ; we injure the land by going on it when it is 

 soft ; and, when we spread manure on at this season, it 

 is much in the way of the scythe ; and the rake will 

 gather up a part of it with the hay in July. 



We think the best time is in November, as soon as 

 our harvesting is over. The compost will then dry up 

 but little before its virtues are mingled with the soil. 

 If the land has long lain in grass, it should be well 

 harrowed, after applying the compost. If the harrow 

 moves slowly over the groinid it will tear up but few 

 of the roots, and it makes more room for those that re- 

 main : it opens the ground so as to admit the compost, 

 and, before the long days of May arrive, much of the 

 goodness of the manure is sunk into the soil. 



