THE farmer’s manual. 
103 
for your plaster of Paris, and dress with one, two, or 
three husheK to the acre, as the tillage may require ; 
and upon your moislrr grounds, you may spread your 
live, or leached ashes, in hroad-cast, according to the 
quantity you can collect ; they will richly repay for 
several successive seasons. 
Drains which convey a wash on to your mow- 
ing grounds, arc of the highest value; and now 
claim your serious attention ; therefore, repair, 
mend and secure your dams ; dig or plough out 
your drains, change their directions on to a new 
surface, (otherwise the parts last washed will be in- 
jured by becoming too rich and rank, and your grass 
will come forward and lodge, and rot at bottom, be- 
fore the other parts of your field arc fit to (mow) cut, 
and thus you suffer a two, or three- fold waste, from 
your inattention.) One gallon of water in winter, 
from the rains and melted snows, will exceed in va- 
lue many gallons of summer water, when applied as 
a wash to your mowing grounds. Your barn yards 
being cleared as above, and your drains well secur- 
ed, and as well directed ; your stabling and sheds to 
receive your slock, next claim your attention. If you 
arc ready for the expense, without injuring your other 
improvements, or contracting debts, (« farmer should 
never be in debt,) let ydur barn face the soutl^^- 
close one rood of land, or less, (according to th^um- 
ber of your stock,) in a square form, erect low and 
frame sheds upon the east and west sides of your 
yard, w'ith a single roof, that shall convey the water, 
or rains, off from the yard ; let the sheds extend as a 
side fence upon two sides of your barn-yard, from the 
corners of your barn, with cribs, or racks, for your 
cattle to feed. Next to good feeding, are warm and 
dry coverings for your stock. Let your barn-yard 
form a gentle descent, at or near to one corner, where 
the heavy rains may settle ; throw into this the coarse 
clearings of your cribs, refuse straw', buck-wheat 
straw, &c. these will ferment, and form a reservoir of 
