MANURES. 145 



Here is a striking instance of failure of grass upon a portion 

 of a piece of peat meadow, which we reclaimed a few years 

 since : the meadow was drained, the surface levelled, and in 

 winter, when frozen, about one hundred ox-cart loads of gravel 

 were hauled upon it to the acre. In the following summer, 

 this was spread, covering what grass was growing. In the 

 autumn, a compost was spread upon it, and grass-seed sown. 

 The next summer the crop of hay was two and one-half tons 

 to the acre. 



The herdsgrass stood four feet upon a level upon the 

 lot, with the exception of a small piece upon one end, on 

 which no gravel was spread ; upon this part of the meadow, — 

 clear peat, with the exception of the compost, — the grass 

 attained but half the height of the gravelled part, was very 

 soft, and fell to the ground, for want of silex to give strength 

 to the stem. It is thus seen that for the want of a single 

 element of inorganic matter in the ground, the crop failed 

 one-half. 



There can be but little doubt that many of the cultivated 

 fields of the county, which produce but a scanty crop without 

 being enriched by stable or barn-yard manure, might be greatly 

 improved, at a comparatively small expense, by the applica- 

 tion of some inorganic element of manure (for any matter 

 which makes land productive is manure), like lime, potash, 

 soda, or any other inorganic element of plants, of which the 

 soil has been robbed by long-continued cultivation. 



There is ground which at sight looks as if it might be 

 naturally productive, but which scarcely produces grass 

 enough to form any sward. Here, perhaps, one or two 

 simple elements of plant-growth are wanting, which, if sup- 

 plied, might render the land productive. 



It is hoped that cultivators the coming season will make 

 careful experiments with the mineral preparations which are 

 for sale, and which are said, in some instances, to double the 



crops. 



J. Newhall, Chairman. 



19* 



