PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 127 



SUPERVISOR'S REPORT. 



Dr. Anthony Collamore, of Pembroke, and George W. Wood, 

 of Middleborough, entered claims to the premiums offered for 

 experiments in the appUcation of manure to mowing grounds. 

 There was not sufficient time allotted, for these experiments, to 

 make them as satisfactory as might he desired. This was ap- 

 prehended at the time the offers were made ; but farmers are so 

 averse to seeking any distant premiums, that we are often in- 

 duced to name less time for the performance of an experiment 

 than our judgment, under other circumstances, would dictate. 

 The first months in the last two seasons were unusually dry. 

 This circumstance may have given the applicants too unfavora- 

 ble views of the general influences of spring dressings. The 

 results of both experiments indicate that manure is more effica- 

 cious, applied in the fall than in the spring. It will so appear 

 as often as the first of a season proves dry. But, in our experi- 

 ence, manure applied in the month of May produces more eflect, 

 if a sufficiency of rain follow, than in any other month. It is 

 a general rule given by agricultural writers, to manure as near 

 the time of growth in the plants as possible. This rule would 

 lead us to apply fall dressings early as practicable. And, we 

 suppose, it is generally best to do so. But, if a dry autumn 

 ensue, we shall perceive very little influence, from the manure 

 spread in September, on the latter growth of the grass. One of 

 the experimenters obtained the greatest crop where the applica- 

 tion was made in September, and the other where it was made 

 in November. The applicants are situated fifteen miles apart, 

 and it is very supposable that more showers might fall in Mid- 

 dleborough, in the month of September, than in Pembroke. Dif- 

 ference in the operations probably had much influence in the 

 case. Mr. Wood's manure was reduced to a finer state of pul- 

 verization before applied, therefore it would take more immedi- 

 ate effect. We believe the applicants have conducted the ex- 

 periments with sufficient care to have produced more satisfac- 

 tory results, had not the seasons been so singularly unfavorable 



