Comparative Effects of different Manures on Grass Lands. 651 
quantity of soil from road ditches, and every quarter whence it could 
be collected. However inferior this might be in quality, it contained 
an enormous amount of that mineral element which was continually 
going away from the soil. The quantity of waste soil which grass 
would grow through, if such soil were applied in the winter, was very 
great ; hence a dressing might be given which in a few years woidd 
almost give the grass an additional bed to that in which it originally 
grew. If something of that kind were not done, and manui'e was con- 
stantly being applied in a stimulative or ammoniac&l form, they were 
to a certain extent increasing an evil which was always in operation. 
He observed that Professor Voelcker supported that view in speaking 
of the effect of ammoniacal manures in certain cases on the character 
of the soil. This point was well worthy of attention. 
Mr. Thompson, in looking at the experimental plots at Ttotham- 
sted the previous day, particularly noticed that although tliis was 
only the seventh year in which the grass experiments had been made, 
the plot which had been maniu'cd Avith ammoniacal dressings without 
mineral manures had clearly failed ; whereas on land v, hich had been 
cultivated every year with wheat, the application of ammonia without 
mineral manures had produced a good crop, even after twenty years. 
That showed what a great difference there was between the manage- 
ment of grass land and the management of arable land. 
As Mr. Dent had inquired as to the best mode of applying lime to 
grass land, he might mention the practice in that respect which 
was followed in Yorkshire, where lime was the principal manure. 
The part of the country to which he especially alluded was the district 
of Craven. It was well known that, although on the mineral carboni- 
ferous limestone the gi-ass gi'cw in such quantities that they could 
fixtten large beasts iipon it, and was sufficient to keep milch cows 
and fatten beasts and oxen in winter, merely on account of the 
quality of the hay, yet hardly any manure was used there except lime. 
The general practice was to put on the land a large dressing of lime- 
stone, in a hot state, just as it came from the Iriln, and to spread it so 
thickly us to make the sm-face appear quite white. This practice was 
found to answer very well, though the district was a lime one, and in 
many places the soil was not much above the limestone itself. 
Mr. Dent. — When is the lime put on the land ? 
Mr. Thompson said it was applied at all periods ; sometimes after 
mowing, in which case the after grass was given up on account of the 
application of lime. With regard to the quantity and value of the 
manure to be applied tp grass land, Mr. Dent had objected to Pro- 
fessor Voelcker's estimate as being too high, or beyond the means of 
tenant farmers generally ; and the Professor, in noticing that objection, 
said, the quantities which he had mentioned might be divided by two, 
or even three. Now he (Mr. Thompson) must protest against the last- 
mentioned process of division. A rather large experience in experi- 
mental manuring had convinced him that if they wanted to improve 
grass land it would not do to trifle with the matter, and that the 
outlay of money on a very small application would jirobably be thrown 
away. K they wished to improve their grass land, they had better by 
