IMPROVING PASTURE AND WASTE LAND. 67 



" STATEMENT. 



" The land upon which I operated was about two and one-half 

 acres of old pasture. The surface was raised into ridges and 

 hillocks, and, for the most part, covered with bushes. Treatment : 

 by ploughing, I levelled the ridges, tore up the bushes, getting out 

 what roots I could. I then carted the whole into a pile, and started 

 a fire, which I kept going until all were consumed. The field was 

 then ploughed again, and seeded to grass. Twenty cart-loads 

 of ashes — the amount obtained from the fire — being applied for 

 dressing. But, as a great part of this dressing was blown off b} r 

 the wind, I afterwards applied four cords of stable manure as a 

 substitute. 



" This method has decided merit over all others that I have tried, 

 as it thoroughly, and at once, clears the land of all noxious growths, 

 works the soil, leaves it in such a condition that it can be treated 

 readily, and in a first-class manner, and as it furnishes its own 

 manure, comparatively cheap. In regard to the chemical properties, 

 or value of these ashes, I can give no information. I simply know 

 that the land upon which- they were used does well, and, as }'et, 

 shows no sign of running out. 



Expense of Improvement. 



Ploughing and cleaving, $20 00 



" and preparing for seed, 20 00 



Seed, 3 00 



Four cords of manure, 28 00 



Total, $71 00 



Income the first year, 4| tons of hay, at $25 per ton, . . . $112 50 

 li beyond expense, 41 50" 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE ABOVE STATEMENT AND REPORT. 



The reading of the above report gave rise to considerable 

 discussion at a meeting of the trustees of the Society, when 

 reports of committees w r ere under consideration, and I was 

 requested to append to the report some remarks. 



I desire to call attention briefly, first, to the written state- 

 ment of Mr. Horton, and second, to the observations of the 

 Committee, and the extract presented from Mr. Colman's 

 "European Agriculture." The points in Mr. Horton's state- 

 ment wmicli seem extraordinary, relate not so much to the 

 simple method adopted in clearing his land, as to the alleged 



