OF EARTH. 63 



dung of pigeons and poultry does far exceed that of beasts which feed 

 on gross vegetables, and tells us it has been found upon experience, that 

 one load of any sort of seed contains as much virtue, as ten loads of ordi- 

 nary dung ; therefore, it is advisable, upon all removals of corn-ricks, hay- 

 stacks, &c. that the husbandman reserve all he can of the bottoms, offal, 

 and shakings, and mingling them with chimney-soot and blood, let him 

 reduce the whole into the form of a paste. To this, add as much dried 



" with a crop of corn ; and, in order that the grass-seeds might have a strong vegetation, 

 " I took care to see it well dressed. From this piece I selected three roods of equal quality 

 " with the rest, and dressed them with bones broken very small, at the rate of sixty bushels 

 " per acre. Upon the lands thus managed, the crop of corn was infinitely superior to the 

 " rest. The next year the grass was also superior, and has continued to preserve the same 

 " superiority ever since, insomuchj that in spring it is green three weeks before the rest of 

 " the field. 



" This year, I propose to plough up the field, as the Festuca Sylvalica ( Prye Grass ) has 

 " overpowered the grass-seeds originally sown. And here it will be proper to remai'k, that, 

 " notwithstanding this species of grass is the natural produce of the soil, the three roods on 

 " which the bones were laid, have hai'dly any of it, but on the contrary, have all along pro- 

 " duced the finest grasses. 



" Last year, I dressed two acres with bones in two different fields prepared for turnips, 

 " sixty bushels to the acre, and had the pleasure to find the turnips greatly superior to the 

 " others managed in the common way. I have no doubt but these two acres will preserve 

 " their superiority for many years to come, if I may be allowed to prognosticate from foi-mer 

 " experiments most attentively conducted. 



" I also dressed an acre of grass ground with bones in October, (1774,') and rolled them in. 

 " The succeeding crop of hay was an exceeding good one. However, I have found from 

 " repeated experience, that, upon grass ground, this kind of manure exerts itself more power- 

 " fully the second year than the first. 



" It must be obvious to every person, that the bones should be well broken before they 

 " can be equally spread upon the land. No pieces should exceed the size of marbles. To 

 " perform this necessary operation, I would recommend the bones to be sufficiently bruised, 

 " by putting them under a circular stone, which being moved round upon its edge by means 

 " of a horse, in the manner that tanners grind their bark, will very expeditiously effect the 

 " purpose. At Sheffield it is now become a trade to grind bones for the use of the farmer. 

 " Some people break them small with hammers upon a piece of iron, but that method is 

 " inferior to grinding. To ascertain the comparative merit of ground and unground bones, 

 " I last year dressed two acres of turnips with large bones, in the same field where the 

 " ground ones were used ; the result of this experiment was, that the unground materials did 

 " not perform the least service ; while those parts of the field on which the ground bones 

 " were laid, were greatly benefited. 



" I find that bones of all kinds will answer the purposes of rich dressing ; but those of 

 " fat cattle, I apprehend, are the best. The London bones, as I am informed, undergo 



