78 On Plaistcr of Paris. 



and it has done well. Some do not sow it till the vege- 

 tation begins. It seems to me, that if strewed at any 

 season, it will have an effect; though, perhaps in a 

 greater or less degree, according to the state of the 

 weather, or other accidental causes. /^fy' 



(ej I believe that all manures put on as top dressings, are 

 most beneficial in the spring ; when the plant is active, and 

 draws in the food they supply. Dung\ or other manure, laid 

 on superficially in the autumn or winter, loses much by the 

 washings oi the winter rains, &c. It can do little service 

 while the plant is torpid, except as a cover from frost, and by 

 depositing what is left of its salts and juices, ready to act 

 on the plant v/hen vegetation begins. 



I am inclined to believe, from more attentive experience 

 since, that my opinion, stated in the foregoing note, ts not 

 generally founded in fact ; though the theory appeared to me 

 plausible. I have been highly benefited by both compost and 

 dung, as top dressings, in the autumn. On one field, I left a 

 part to be covered in the spring ; after most oi the ground 

 had been dunged m the fall. The eflPect was greatly in favour 

 of that lunged in the autumn. Plough. iig in manure, will ef- 

 fectually prevent its wash ng away by w^inter rains. But I 

 th;nk the sht-ltcr given by dung or compost to the grass, 

 or grain, as a top dressing, and the mixing oi the salts or 

 component parts of the dung, or con^post, by means of frosts 

 and thaws in winter, with the earth, far overbalance any 

 loss by the washings of winter rains. The evaporation which 

 carries oif the v = atile parts of the manure, is certainly less 

 in wmter, than in spring, or summer. With plaister strewed 

 in winter, I have succeeded as well as in any other season of 

 strewing. R. P. 



September^ 1810. 



