204 ON THE IMPROVEMENT 



with them, or long manure, just before they are put upon 

 the soil, whereby they are brought speedily into a state 

 of fermentation and decomposition. 



33. The best guards against drought, are keeping the 

 soil deep, rich, clean, and mellow on the surface. 



34. The more cattle that are well kept upon a farm, 

 the more manure ; the more manure there is applied, the 

 greater the product and the profit, and the greater the 

 means of sustaining an increased stock of animals upon it. 

 All of these advantages are increased when root crops are 

 made to enter largely into the system of culture. 



CHAPTER XXL 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. 



Although the alternation of grass and grain crops, in 

 connexion with the rearing of cattle, is deemed most prof- 

 itable, on soils and in situations which will admit of this 

 kind of husbandry, yet there are many situations in which 

 this alternate change cannot be carried into effect with- 

 out manifest prejudice to the interests of the cultivator. 

 There are some soils so natural to grass, as to yield an 

 undiminished product for many years, almost without la- 

 bor or expense. There are others, upon the banks of 

 streams, which periodically overflow, which it is prudent 

 to keep in grass, lest the soil should be worn away by 

 the rapid flow of waters. Besides, fertility is kept up 

 upon these last, by the annual deposit of enriching materi- 

 als. Others, again, are too precipitous, or too strong, to 

 admit of arable culture. Nor should we conceal the fact, 

 that it is still a controverted point, whether rich, stiff clays 

 are not most profitable, when permanently appropriated to 

 grass. Whatever causes prevail, the fact is indisputable, 

 that a considerable portion of our lands is, and will con- 

 tinue to remain, in meadow and pasture. It is with the 

 view to aid the farmer in correcting the defects which 

 may exist in such grounds, and in improving and keeping 



