206 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



find that is all grass-land requires — a little muddy water. 

 The sediment left is thinner than a sheet of paper, yet the 

 fertilizing matter is sufficient for a year's growth of grass. I 

 have taken the hint from this, and dissolved clay and swamp- 

 mud in water to test its fertilizing power on grass, and I find 

 that by stirring up a pailful of spring-water and a little clay 

 or swamp-mud together, and turning it over a given area of 

 grass it produces as much growth, provided the roots are 

 healthy and vigorous, as an equal amount of manure, — the 

 liquids and solids mixed together and spread over the same 

 surface. 



I had another hint. On the upper end of my farm there 

 comes in a little rill from the woodland, and this, when the 

 snow goes off in the spring, brings down a little water, and 

 the water is a little muddy. Well, wherever that spreads out 

 over the pasture on its downward course toward the Mohawk, 

 there is no trouble in having all the grass that will grow. 

 Hence I have taken the hint, and Ijelieve that the best top- 

 dressing for meadows or pastures, if the roots of the grass are 

 healthy and vigorous, is muddy water. 



Now, how many of you can irrigate a portion or the whole 

 of your pastures or meadows ? Let me suggest to you that, 

 with a plough or scraper, you make an artificial pond in some 

 place, pretty well toward the upper side of your pasture or 

 mowing-field, where you can turn a stream in, and when the 

 snow goes off in the spring, plough up the mud of that pond 

 with a yoke of oxen, harrow it, or cultivate it, or do anything 

 to it that will stir up the mud, and when you get it thoroughly 

 stirred up, open the gate, or break away the dam, and let it 

 spread out over your land. I wish you would all try this, 

 and see what the effect will be. If you find that it pays, you 

 can make these artificial ponds every year, and let your 

 muddy water out in that way over the land below it. If it 

 does not pay, I do not ask you to try the experiment a second 

 time ; but I think it will pay. 



I do not advise any top-dressing, with any material what- 

 ever, unless the roots are in a healthy condition. If they are 

 unhealthy, the better way is to plough them up ; but most of 

 our grass-lands that have been in use a great while are lack- 

 ing in phosphates, and you will find that a light sprinkling of 



