38 



land into good condition for timothy ; and if it be desired to produce 

 market hay, it will usually be best not to use potash largely in connec- 

 tion with the manure for the crops preceding the grass. For market 

 hay heavy applications of nitrogen manures or fertilizers and relatively 

 light applications of materials containing either potash or phosphoric 

 acid should be the rule. 



Second, Toiy-dressing Orass Lands. — Throughout the State manure 

 is quite largely used for top-dressing grass lands, and every good farmer 

 knows that fine crops of hay can be produced through its use. It may 

 be doubted, however, whether the manure on most of our farms might 

 not be more advantageously used in most cases upon the plowed lands. 



Clover on Sulphate of Potash makes a Fine Growth. 



The elements of value contained in the manure are most certainly con- 

 served for the use of the following crop when the manure can be 

 incorporated with the soil. When it must lie upon the surface it is 

 subject to some loss, chiefly in two ways : First, by the escape of 

 ammonia into the air; and second, by wash over the surface. Further, 

 the manure, unless fine, tends to kill the grass to some extent. The 

 necessity for a close turf for the production of maximum hay crops has 

 been alluded to. If niunerous little areas are jDrevented from full devel- 

 opment because covered by lumps of manure, the result must be a not 

 unimportant decrease in the crop. For all these reasons, it is the belief 

 of the writer that under average farm conditions manures should be 

 mainly used on the plowed land, and fertilizers depended upon for top- 

 dressing grass lands. Whenever manure is chiefly depended upon for 

 top-dressing, the grasses will be found to be relatively prominent, for 



