82 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



marks of the committee published by the society in the Trans- 

 actions of last year. 



Your committee, therefore, believing this case not within 

 the intent of the offered premiums of the society, but fully im- 

 pressed with the merit of the experiment, recommend that the 

 statement of Mr. Berry be published in the Transactions of the 

 society, and a gratuity of eight dollars be awarded to him. 



While we are gratified in noticing improvements in tillage 

 and mowing land in various parts of the county, it is but sel- 

 dom we are favored with the sight of equal improvement in 

 grazing lands. 



In a former report of a committee of this society on this 

 subject the deterioration of our pastures was adverted to and 

 enforced by noticing the increased allowance of land to the 

 animal; and, in a more recent report and accompanying state- 

 ment, remarks and facts are imbodied which may be useful 

 for the consideration of those of us who have deteriorated 

 pastures. 



The writer of this was gratified to learn that one of the 

 trustees was about to try the effect of sheep grazing upon old 

 pastures, and has great confidence in the success of the ex- 

 periment. 



As practical experience is more satisfactory than theoretical 

 speculations, the writer will only relate the experience he has 

 had in the amelioration of pasture lands, which, though only 

 partially applied on a small scale, may lead to more extended 

 and satisfactory experiments. 



In the early part of the summer of 1853, guano, mixed with 

 an equal quantity of plaster, was applied as a top dressing to 

 pasture lands, with some visible effect on the herbage for that 

 season, and extended in a smaller degree to the present sum- 

 mer, but not in sufficient improvement to continue the experi- 

 ment under similar circumstances — it being applied after the 

 spring rains. 



Plaster has also been applied on the surface without any 

 marked effect. Leached ashes have also been used as a top 

 dressing, with more marked benefit than cither of the others, 

 and had the effect of eradicating moss, and introducing white 

 clover, and materially increasing the grass where applied. 



