HUSBANDRY. 
Been more fully and completely reduced, as 
in this state the manure is, in the case of 
grass lands, not only capable of being spread 
out in a more regular and uniform manner, 
by which it becomes more evenly as well as 
more generally carried down to the roots of 
the plants by rains, but it is in the most suit- 
able condition for allowing the young plants 
the means of springing up with facility, and 
at the same time, whether used under or 
upon the soil, of affording the crops that 
abundant supply of nourishment which is ne- 
cessary to their speedy growth and great 
luxuriance, and by these means to contribute 
the most perfectly to the promotion of their 
increase. 
And as in the slow and gradual decompo- 
sition of the materials which are made use of 
for manures, when slightly deposited beneath 
the soil, there is much less waste of heat and 
those elastic matters which contribute so 
greatly to the support of vegetation, than 
where they are made to undergo the various 
processes of dissolution in large masses, as in 
clung heaps, they may probably sometimes 
on that account be most advantageously em- 
ployed in this state. 
On this principle too the ploughing down 
of fresh vegetable crops, in many cases, in 
-their most succulent states, may be a more 
economical as well as move beneficial prac- 
tice ; especially in such light and dry kinds of 
soil as will more readily admit of their gra- 
dual putrefaction and decay, than to cut and 
take them off for the purpose of being br- 
other means converted into manure. It seems ; 
likewise probable, on the same grounds, that 
for the production of crops of bulbous-rooted 
vegetables on the more stiff and tenacious 
soils, the matters made use of as manures 
maybe employed with the greatest advan- 
tage, when put into the earth before they 
have undergone any great degree of decay 
by means of putrefaction, as in this way there 
is no waste, the whole being ultimately con- 
verted and applied, though more slowly, to 
the support oi the crops. 
As to the season in which manures may be 
put into the soil, or spread out upon its sur- 
face, with the greatest benefit and advantage, 
though in practice it must, in some measure, 
depend on the state of the land and the con- 
venience of the farmer, it should, in cases 
where they are buried in the ground, be as 
nearly as possible to the periods in which the 
seeds’ or roots which they are designed to 
support, are sown or placed in the earth ; and 
in the latter case, or where they are to be laid 
upon the surface of the land, it ought to be 
just before the crops of grass, or other vege- 
tables, begin naturally to spring or shoot forth. 
And by the application of such manures as 
are employed in the way of top-dressings in 
the beginning of the spring, they are laid on 
in the most favourable period for affording 
their nutritious principles, and for their being 
drank up by the roots of plants, consequently 
become useful at the time they are most 
wanted for the promotion of the crops, and 
the- great waste which must otherwise be 
caused, either by the excessive falls of rains 
and floods in the winter season, washing 
down much of the valuable properties into 
the adjoining rivers and ditches, or the eva- 
poration of their more volatile or elastic mat- 
ters by means of the summer heats, is most 
effectually guarded against and prevented. 
01 
On all these accounts, therefore, farmers 
should contrive as much as possible to apply 
the manures, intended as top-dressings to 
grass lands, as early in the spring as it can be 
conveniently done, which may be easily ma- 
naged on those that are dry, and on such as 
are inclined to be wet and poachy, it may 
probably be greatly facilitated by having - 
small light carts constructed for the purpose, 
and placed on broad cylinders as wheels. 
In the application of manures to lands 
under tillage, as well as those in the state of 
grass there are a few other circumstances 
that require the attention of cultivators ; such 
as the depth they may be deposited in the soil, 
the modes of putting them upon the ground, 
and the most economical methods of employ- 
ing them. 
In respect to the advantage of using one 
sort of manure in preference to another, it 
may be observed, that as animal matters are 
found in general to undergo more speedily 
the process of putrefaction or decomposition, 
than those of the vegetable kind, and as in 
most instances they afford those mucilagi- 
nous and elastic principles that contribute so 
largely to the support of vegetable life in 
greater proportions; such manures as are 
either wholly or in a great measure composed 
of them, must be the most beneficially em- 
ployed, where quick and abundant supplies 
of nourishment are required, as in the growth 
of all the more gross and luxuriant crops, 
whether of grain, plants, or grasses; and that 
as those vegetable substances which contain 
j saccharine, farinaceous, oily, saline, or muci- 
laginous principles in the largest quantities 
are ascertained from experience to proceed 
the most readily into the state ot dissolution 
or decay, and consequently to afford more 
fully and more expeditiously the nutrient 
food of new plants, where manures are prin- 
cipally formed from them, they should be 
preferred to such as have been made from 
the harder and more ligneous vegetable sub- 
stances, that contain such properties in 
scarcely any, or much smaller degrees, for 
all the purposes of agriculture. 
Of the natural spontaneous grasses. Hav- 
ing thus stated the nature and principles of 
the various soiis which are met with on the 
surface of the earth, and shewn the different 
modes of improving the same, it becomes us, 
in the next place, to speak of the best natural 
productions thereof, especially of the gramina 
kind; that from thence the agricultor may 
make his selection of such land as may be 
most profitable. 
In our meadow and pasture lands we find a 
great variety of grasses, of which some are 
far more valuable than others; to know the 
good from those which are indifferent be- 
comes the interest of the farmer; we there- 
fore give him the characters (accompanied 
with figures. See plates I. and II.) of the most 
valuable, so classed in our catalogue as they 
stand in precedence of quality one to another. 
1. Great smooth stalked meadow grass — 
Poa pratensensis. 
2. Hard fescue grass — Festuca duriusculo. 
3. Meadow fesc. grass — Festuca pratensio. 
4. Ray grass — Lolium perenne. 
5. Meadow fox-tail grass — Alopecurus pra- 
tensis. 
6. Sheeps’ fescue grass — Festuca ovina. 
7. Rough stalked meadow grass — Poa tri- 
vialis. 
8. Marsh meadow grass — Poa palustris. 
9. Compressed meadow grass — Poa com* 
pressa. 
10. Crested dogs’ tail grass — Cynosurus 
cristatus. 
11. Knotty cats’ tail grass— Phleum no- 
dosum. 
12. Sweet scented spring grass — Anlhox- 
anthum odoratum. 
Great or smooth-stalked meadow grass. 
Tins grass is considered as the best of all we 
have; it is early in its foliage, makes the best 
hay, affords the riciiest pasture, all sorts of 
cattle are fond of it, it is in all our meadow s, 
and will continue in the same land much 
longer than any other grass. 
Hard fescue. This is an early and produc- 
tive grass, with fine foliage, which grows well 
on downs and rich meadows. It is well adapt- 
ed for being combined with other grasses in 
forming sheep pastures, and stands high in es- 
teem as a very good hay grass. 
Meadow fescue grass. This is a grass that 
comes near in its appearance to ray grass, but 
to which it seems greatly superior, as being 
larger, and more productive of foliage. It is 
strictly perennial and hardy, thriving well in 
most soils, growing in all situations; audit 
abounds in the best meadows, in the best hay 
districts; is sweet, luxuriant, and quick of 
growth, affording rich pasture, and making 
good hay. In short, it seems well calculated 
to supply the defects of ray grass. Besides, 
it has'the quality of producing more seeds 
than most of the other ’sorts of grasses, which, 
are easily gathered, and grow readily. 
Ray or rye grass. This is a sort of grass 
that has been much in cultivation, but is de- 
ficient in some of the properties necessary tor 
meadow or pasture lands. In rich moist 
meadows its foliage is abundant ; and it seems 
probable that it is highly acceptable and nu- 
tritious in feeding cattle; its foliage is of rapid 
growth, and flowering stems continually 
shooting forth. It is best adapted to the 
loamy and sandy descriptions ot soils; but it 
will succeed on any except stiff clay, and 
even on that it may be grown. 
On converting ray grass into hay, it is 
necessary to cut it at a period previous to its 
being so ripe as to have perfected its seed, 
and changed to a yellow colour ; for in this 
case a great part of the juices of the plant, 
which constitute a principal part of the nu- 
triment it is to afford, will be converted into 
a species of straw, and its nutritive properties 
be proportionably diminished. 
Meadow fox -'tail grass. It is in some 
measure distinguished by the largeness of its 
foliage, which is rather coarse, and by its pro- 
ducing a soft spike on a long stalk, early in 
May. If it be mown early, just as it comes ' 
into bloom, the hay will not be coarse. It 
shoots very rapidly after mowing^ and pro- 
duces a plentiful aftermath. 
Sheeps’ fescue. This grass is praise-worthy 
both for the purposes of pasture and hay; 
sheep and other sorts of stock are fond of it, 
and are soon rendered fat in pastures where 
it prevails, giving to mutton a sweet delicious 
flavour. 
Rough-stalked meadow grass , It delights 
in moisture, and situations that are sheltered ; 
on which account, though there are few more 
productive, or better adapted for the pur- 
pose of hay or pasturage, it is tender, and 
liable to be injured by severe cold or drought; 
