264 



LABORS OF NOVEMBER. 



brought in earl 7, it will gather heat in the heap; if 

 late, the husks have suffered. It is better to husk it 

 out as fast as it is carted up. The husks will come off 

 easier, and the corn will dry better. 



The compost that has been carried on to grass-land 

 may better be spread this autumn than suffered to lie 

 in heaps until spring. The frost remains so long in 

 the heaps that they cannot be spread before the first 

 of May, and then we have no time. 



Irrigation of Grass-Lands. This was more ex- 

 tensively practised in years gone by than at present. 

 We find it attended with much labor ; the trenches 

 must be watched and kept nearly on a level, or the 

 water will not spread over the land. Another objec- 

 tion, of more weight, lies in the poor quality of the 

 grass thus forced into existence. If manure has been 

 spread over the surface, and the water has been made 

 to flow freely among it, the grass will not be eaten by 

 cattle. 



We have seen hay, grown in this way, that was 

 worth but little. We have seen it look bright and in- 

 viting, having the form and the appearance of the best 

 of hay, but not worth half the price. 



In our low lands, and oiu' peat-swamps, that we 

 have been bringing into English grass, we flush no 

 water over the surface. We choose to let it take the 

 rains and the dews of heaven in addition to the mois- 

 ture that naturally rises from these low lands, and w^e 

 obtain hay but very little inferior in quality to that 

 which is raised on lands that have been in tillage. 



There may be cases where it is advisable to irrigate 

 the surface of grass-lands, but, when this is practised, 

 care should always be taken that the water be not suf- 

 fered to flow too late in the season. The current 

 should be diverted from the grass two or three weeks 

 before mowing time, that its quality may be improved. 



Cattle, of all descriptions, will require a shelter be- 

 fore the close of the month. Old cattle require more 



