576 Application of Liquid Manure to Italian Rye Grass. 
My land — a strong clay, in good heart, and under-drained — is finely 
pulverized during the summer months after tares or any early crop of 
corn, is sown broadcast with 4 bushels per acre of seed, grown by my- 
self ivithout weed, harrowed very lightly with bushes ; iron harrows 
bury the seeds too deeply ; if weeds grow they are pulled, and the grass 
stands for a crop, which, in 1844, was cut the first time the first week 
in March, with about 10 inches of grass; 
April 13th, it was cut the second time ; 
May 4th, the third time ; 
May 24th, the fourth time ; 
June 14th, the fifth time; 
July 22nd, the sixth time, with ripe seed and 3 loads of hay- 
straw to the acre. 
Immediately after each of tbese crops the land was watered once from a 
London street-watercart, with two j^arts of pure urine from the stables 
and one part of water ; the produce of each crop increasing with the 
temperature of the atmosphere, from three-quarters of a load per acre, 
as hay, to 3 loads per acre. The crop having shed a quantity of seed, 
I was doubtful the urine might injure its growing, so discontinued to 
water, but well harrowed it with iron harrows and left it, expecting 
nothing more from it; it produced, however, 3 or 4 (I believe 4) light 
crops afterwards ; and has now standing upon it again 3 loads to the 
acre, the third crop for seed — 
1845 : My first cutting this year was not till April 6th; 
Second, May 3rd ; 
Third, JuneQlh; 
Fourth, 2i- feet long, now standing on the land. 
I have since covered the land well with the plant, from 2 bushels of 
seed per acre, sown from a broadcast drill, of Mr. Smart's, 369, Oxford 
Street, which, from the average price of 105. per bushel for the seed, 
pays the cost of tlie drill (3/. 10*. ) immediately, besides a more evenly 
sown plant; and may be sown in windy weather, which cannot be done 
by the hand. 
I think it necessary to observe, from my own experience, Italian rye 
grass diflPers as much in quality and variety as English rye grasses or 
English fruits. There are Italian rj'e grasses that bloom at 1^ feet 
high ; and that I grow, as your Grace has seen, stands from 4 to 5 feet. 
Any further information that may be required, so far as I am able, shall 
be given to any one wishing to grow the plant. I attach a letter sent 
me by a practical farmer whom I supplied with seed for an acre, which 
will furnish interesting information to sheep graziers. 
I beg the honour to subscribe myself, my Lord Duke, 
Your Grace's very humble servant, 
William Dickinson. 
Curzon Street, May fair, London, July \2th, 184.T. 
My de ab Sin, — With the Italian rye grass seed I had of you I sowed about one acre 
Ihe first week in September last ; after a crop of" Spring tares the ground wa» manured 
with about 10 tons of good horse-dung. 
