56 , A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



less value, as herbage of the former or latter description pre- 

 dominates. This improvement is, however, far more sensible 

 when aided by the application of lime, as we shall have occa- 

 sion to notice wlicn we come to treat of that fossil. 



There is, indeed, evidently a mistaken practice throughout 

 most parts of the kingdom with respect to the application of 

 manure. The custom alluded to is that of laying it upon land 

 of an inferior quality, while that of a superior kind is in equal 

 want of improvement ; the better part of many farms being 

 thus in some degree impoverished by attempting to improve, 

 at an evident loss, the poorer parts. Others, indeed, follow 

 the opposite system ; but, when justice is done to the land, 

 every part in rotation should receive the manure arising from 

 its produce. There are, however, some rare instances of ground 

 of so rich a quality, that by laying any manure upon it an injury 

 would be sustained ; but, upon the whole, it is an evident fact 

 that any manure whatever — if not of a nature unsuitable to the 

 soil — will be always attended with a proportionately better 

 return when laid upon good, than upon poor land. 



In tlie spreading of dung upon the land, the common prac- 

 tice is to put it first out of the carts in hillocks, and afterwards 

 to spread it upon the ground. Many farmers, however, take 

 the opportunity of carting out their manure during a frost, and 

 there leaving it in heaps until a thaw. The convenience of 

 this is evident; and perhaps, during that weather, no great 

 damage will happen to the dung, nor can much of its juices 

 be imbibed by the soil : but if thus left, even for a short time, 

 in open weather, the spots upon whicii it is laid get more than 

 their share of the dressing, for the moisture is imbibed by that 

 part under the manure, whilst the upper parts are dried by 

 the action of the air, and lose some portion of their fertilizing 

 power. Its effect is thus unequal; the crop will vegetate 

 more luxuriantly on those spots, and the harvest will not be 

 uniform. There is also tliis inconvenience in thus leaving it 

 upon the soil — that, if the land lies upon a declivity, a consi- 

 derable portion of the manure may be washed out by the rain, 

 and either carried to the lower part of the field, or else lost in 

 the ditches. 



Another mode is for both the carter and the spreader to 

 stand in the cart, and shake the manure out with forks ; but 

 although this has the advantage of a more ready distribution, 

 yet, if the men drop a forkfiil by accident, or do not scatter a 

 lump in the manner intended, they cannot stop^ to divide it, 



