No. 149.1 249 



in effect, but none so lasting, leaving an earthy residuum which 

 adds to the staple of the soil." 



As a general dependance, it is the best for grass lands, inclu- 

 ding permanent pastures ; our hot suns do not permit them to 

 be used at all seasons, or on all lands. In May, or about the 

 first of June is the best time, just as the young grass starts or be- 

 gins to grow ; spread it right from the barn-yard, where it has 

 been lying in heaps during the winter, about half or two-thirds 

 rotted, well over the grass lands ; the grass will grow up through 

 it and get above it, it will soon sink and be washed down by rains 

 about the roots. The rains will dissolve its soluble parts, which 

 will enter the earth around the roots, and the pores of these will 

 absorb or suck it in as they want it, and in a few weeks the 

 benefit of the application will be seen by a vigorous start and 

 growth of the grass, soon over-topping tlie neighboring grass- 

 where none has been applied. We have often, years ago, wit- 

 nessed its effects on grass lands applied in a similar way, and no 

 later than last summer we saw it exemplified on several farms 

 we visited in June and July ; some of the fields of these farms 

 and meadows had cattle feeding upon them, others beside them 

 not j there appeared to be little or no difference in the size or 

 growth of the grass, all nearly quite alike. The fresh manure 

 of the cattle dropt was added to that before spread, and this also 

 would soon disappear and be lost amid the luxuriance of the grass. 

 The efiects of these fresh droppings appeared to make up for the- 

 loss sustained by feeding, and all seem to have a uniform height, 

 color, and richness. No manure could be seen anywhere, unless 

 the ground was pretty closely inspected, and then only a little of 

 the coarser and more insoluble parts, and which required a little 

 more time for solution, or unless the droppings were very recent 

 and had not time to descend and disappear among the thick 

 grass. We do not think a particle, or certainly not any worth 

 estimating, could have been lost by evaporation. The sun 

 could have none, or very little power on manure upon ground 

 under such circumstances, and certainly not power enough to 

 create ascending vap/'^r from it and cause any loss from that 

 source. 



