S^Q TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



yielded a crop of wheat every year for sixteen years, with but 

 one plowing. Clover is sown with the wheat, and then turned 

 under for the new crop. 



Mr. Carpenter considered surface manuring far better than 

 plowing in or even treading in, even if it is concentrated manure 

 and a dry season. The earth is so powerful an absorbent of 

 ammonia that none would be lost. 



Dr. Trimble concurred in recommending topdressing, he also 

 read a statement of the opening of the Raritan and Delaware 

 railroad to Squantum, in the immediate vicinity of the marl pits. 



Mr. Carpenter considered the marl as useless upon clay lands, 

 but it might be useful for sandy lands, where clay could not be 

 easily procured. 



Mr. Henry said that as long as the law of capillary attrac- 

 tion remains unchanged, he should recommend plowing in all 

 manures. • The tendency is towards the surface. 



Mr. Pardee read further extracts from the Wisconsin letter. 

 The writer objects to the common method of culture by plow- 

 ing, because 



1. It exposes the land to nakedness. 



2. It violates the economy of nature. 



3. It requires much more time. 



4. It causes disease, by eliminating poisonous gases from the 

 soil. 



5. It buries the seeds of weeds, so that the birds cannot devour 

 them. 



6. It is more expensive, requiring the removal of stones and 

 stumps. 



He had tried one method with success ; applying a dressing 

 of hot water at the time of sowing wheat or garden seeds, he 

 had found at the same time to kill the weeds and grasses, and to 

 hasten the germination of the seeds sown. 



Dr. Waterbury thought the writer had begun his letter at the 

 wrong end. The fact last stated might be found serviceable. 

 He considered the question of top-dressing to be a mere econom- 

 ical one. If labor is scarce, and especially for grass lands, it may 

 be the best thing that the farmer can do. This question will 

 probably be solved in the dairy districts sooner than anywhere 

 else. 



Mr. Fuller was of opinion that top-dressing was good for some 

 soils and not for others. And so with the marls and superphos- 



