ON MANURES. 201 



according to circumstances of the moment, or to his own con- 

 venience. 



We have already touched upon the properties of alkaline 

 manures, so far as they have been tested by experience: the 

 solution of the effects of acids upon the soil must be still left 

 to future experiments, for those already made by chemists, in 

 many instances, present different results. Whatever may be 

 the food of plants — whether gases, oils, salts, or acids — the 

 farmer, however, need not puzzle himself about their chemical 

 qualities, for he may either satisfy himself from the experience 

 of others, or by small trials of his own, whether the effects of 

 any particular species produce fertility or not. Farm-yard 

 manure has been justly called 'the farmer's magic wand;' and 

 the oftener that wand is waved, the more will it contribute to 

 his prosperity. He sees that wherever it has been judiciously 

 used, it causes abundant crops, and that wherever it has been 

 withheld, sterility seizes upon the soil: his chief efforts should 

 therefore be directed to its increase. 



Although the time and manner of applying every description 

 of manures depend so much upon the nature of the soil and 

 season, as well as of the crops to be sown, that no precise 

 rules can be laid down for their employment, yet the following 

 general hints may be found useful. 



SXJMMARY. 



When manures of any kind are to be used as top-dressings 

 for grass, the best season for that purpose is as early as prac- 

 ticable in the month of February, as the vernal showers will 

 then wash them into the soil. If for arable land, at the same 

 time as the sowing of the seed, or immediately afler; but if 

 for wheat, when vegetation is about to acquire force in the 

 spring. 



If dung be applied to a wheat crop, it should be ploughed in 

 during the course of a summer fallow; if compost, at the last 

 ploughing before the seed furrow ; but composts of lime and 

 earth only may be laid upon the land during any period of 

 the year. 



The land should be laid dry ; and the manure should be 

 equally and speedily spread over every part of it, in proportion 

 to the nature of the soil; but if ploughed in, though it should 

 be well mixed with the ground, it should not be too deeply 

 buried. 



