Observations on Colonel Taylor^ s Letter, 71 

 — One trial may not be enough, he will discover rea- 



in broad and flat lands. Frequent ploughing does not seem 

 always to answer on this, as well as on lighter soils, unless 

 it be ridged, and thrown up to drain. I feared that, in the 

 first essay, the proper mode would not be adopted. It is 

 on this soil only, in this country^ that fresh dung, can be 

 recommended, if it be in any case preferable. Arthur Toung^ 

 in his address to the British board of agriculture, (1809,) 

 speaks in strong terms of approbation, of the practice of ap- 

 plying ^r^^A dung; and quotes the authority of professor 

 Davy^ for its great and important efficacy, chetnically consi- 

 dered. It would be well to make experiments on all soils ; 

 and obtain lacts and results. For inyself^ I can answer, that 

 on light soils^ I have tried it repeatedly, with evident disad- 

 vantage, though I am not a friend, to over-rotted dung. 



There is a communication from Thomas Gregg Esq, to the 

 British board of agriculture. May 20th, 1809, of his mode 

 of managing a farm of 240 acres : of heavy, wet clay land, 

 in Hertfordshire, England. It is well worthy the attention of 

 eur farmers on such lands. Though his husbandry is on the 

 ^rill system, which we are not in the habit of practising, yet 



much of his management might be profitably introduced 



He ploughs but once in the year. And that in the autuma 

 and winter; and then ploughs in his dung, which remains 

 undisturbed by the plough, (his allowance ten loads td the 

 acre,) and therefore, he says, a less quantity has more effici« 

 ency. The surface is kept clean, friable, stirred throughout, and 

 free from baking, by the scarijier and harrow, which prepare 

 for, and cover all his crops ; which, where they are of simi- 

 lar grain, are not greater, to the acre, than our own, with good 

 farming. Of the instruments, plates are given. The scarijier 

 is not unlike my cleaning harroxvs ; but more adapted to his 

 use. Mine are for lighter work, in loamy soils, with only one 

 wheel, in the beams by which they are drawn, to regulate 



