TOP DRESSING GRASS LAND. 139 



crops each year. If the seeding has been liberal, and the Clover is 

 manured, the yield is far more profitable. No greater mistakes are 

 made in farming than short-sighted economy in the saving of seed. 

 The tables given in many seedsmen's catalogues I consider to be one- 

 third too little. 



Q. You have alluded several times to the top dressing of grass 

 lands. In what manner do you consider it best to be done, and what 

 kinds and quantities of manures do you use for that purpose ? 



A. I would mention first the application of liquid manure, as the 

 value of this is underrated, and it is too often wholly wasted. The 

 best way of preparing liquid manure for such purpose I have found 

 to be the following: Build a cistern in the barn-yard, at the lowest 

 point, of such capacity as may be required, but be sure it be large 

 enough, and run pipes made of boards, or sewer pipes, three or four 

 inches diameter, into it, from the different buildings, where there 

 may be any droppings from the cattle or hogs or sheep, so that all 

 the drainage will flow into the cistern. In hauling this liquid manure 

 to the fields, I use a large hogshead placed on two wheels. It is 

 filled by means of a pump, and is driven to the field, a perforated pipe, 

 such as is used for street sprinkling, and attached to the hogshead, 

 is opened, and the horse is driven along at an easy walk, this being 

 done always when other work is not pressing. This I find to be the 

 best top dressing for meadow lands, if put on in the spring and fall, 

 but not in the hot, dry weather. On land that has been pastured, 

 and has become " hide-bound," as I call it, I usually take an iron or steel 

 tooth harrow, and harrow it both ways thoroughly. The Acme Harrow 

 is botter still, and the cutters can be adjusted so as to loosen up the 

 surface to whatever extent may be desired. After the ground has 

 been harrowed in this manner, I re-seed with the grass mixture 

 already mentioned, at the rate of two to three bushels per acre, 

 according to the needs of the land. If the grass is thin, I put on 

 more. If it is still thick, less. I then top dress with composted 

 manure that has been turned over a few times and is worked up fine, 

 after which I run over it with the brush harrow and then roll. The 

 quantity of manure to be used depends in a great measure upon the 

 condition of the land, although I might here say that there is very 

 little likelihood of any farmer ever having manure enough to put it 

 on to excess. I use all the way from five to twenty two-horse loads per 

 acre, according to the condition of the land or the quantity of manure 

 I have 011 hand. In the absence of barn-yard manure a compost of 

 lime and loam, with the soils from the backs of fences, is excellent, 

 or plaster at the rate of one ton per acre will answer. This I know 

 is a good deal more plaster than is commonly used, but my principle, 



