Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-23

tOp.oreSSIng, VIII Stdnu up as wei as Two
tons of timothy newly seeded, being So
much thicker at the bottom, and growing 50
many more kinds of grass, have obtained
three and half tons to the acre in a good
season, by spreading ten two-horse wagon
loads Of fresh livery stable manure to tho
acre, in February, on stnbble, principally
lin,oihy the year before, when portion Of
tho meadow not dressed gave but two tons.
| have spread fifteen loads of manure to the
acre on poor, wet, heavy meadow land, in
the fall, where about half ton OF white
daisy grew to the acre. The next year the
crop was about one and half ton of daisy
and other grass, particularly red clover the
year following timothy began 10 get possess
sion-crop about the same in weight IN
the fall, | Pot Oh abou, ten loads more 20
the acre, of swamp manure, that had laid
one year in the hog pen; the result was full
three and half tons of hay 20 The acre Of
timothy, and some white daisy Of equal
height, and very tall. The next year there
was heavy growth Of timothy without daisy,
which was now mastered and killed. Two
things have ascertalned by top-dressine,
which may be useful for some farmers to
know. One 1t is, that is the only way TO ex-
terminate from meadows, daisies and weeds,
and DO paid for doing it, instead of paying
for having it done.
Bull's-eye or white daisy, does not grow
on my meadows, after the yield comes TO
exceed ton and a half to the acre, except
the year following the application of the
manure.
Another thing useful TO know is, that il
pays better to manure good land than poor,
when in or ass The limi, being where the
effect is neutraIized by the grass lodging
early, and rottiug at the boiom-at lessi,-
such is my experience.
As TO the time Of year when manure
ought TO be applied to grass grounds, it must
be varied by circumstances. But this much
| will say, that it may be done as soon after
moving as is convenient, and if in the
spring, not later than the first Of March, in
this latitude.
If the land be naturally wet, so that in
the spring months i, is saturated with water,
the manure should be applied as soon as
possible after it is moved. BY so doing,
the ram which falls in the dry part Of the
season, soaks into the ground, and carries
with it the strength Of manure, which is thus
secured for the benefit Of the land. If on
such land manure be put on late in the fall
or winter, the rains float of great part Of
its substance, and The effect is comparative
'y triAng. 49,. ....
1 Another case where the manure should
he applied early, is where the land is so
poor that the grass is weak and thin. In
such cases it should be applied Immediately
after mnwinp. that the grass may have
time to hicken up in the fall, for the year
following. The greatest effect from the ma
nure will then be observed in the frs. crop
Of grass. Ifit be put on late ths greatest ef.
feet will not be observed until the second
crop is obtained. Early spreading is gene
| rally the best on any meadow land. / pre-
fer unfermenled stable manure, with The lit
ter undecomposed, to the same manure in
rotten state; and hot, dry weather, in sum-
mer, forms no objection with me to applying
} it Immediately. In the dryest weather, tho
grass will soon spring up through the ma
: nure, when it will not grow at all ON the
parts adjacent.
The manure should be spread very even
ly over the ground If it be long manure
il should be shaken fine off the fork. There
are but few hired men who are willing to
perform the work Alright.
have used earth from the roadside,
swamp manure, swamp manure with leach.
ed ashes spread on il after it was applied to
:, :, the land, and leached ashes alone for top
dressing, Of Which the swamp manure and
ashes together produced the greatest effect,
!. being fully equal TO stable manure, and will
no doubt become much moie lasting. Tho
y rich earth from the roadside, on the second
:, year, more than four time paid for lis appll-
u cation. Ashes alone shows decided good
! effect. The swamp manure alone has been
on for two years without having effected
r much change-I suppose, because Of its in
y soluble state, and the grass roots not hav-
ing got hold of it-but do not despair Of
: its ultimate good effects. think that as q
manure, il should always be applied 10 the
: surface, that 1t may be dissolved by abe
g gases that float in the atmosphere. aided by
!, The roots of the grass when they have iaken
y possession oft. know that it is extreme.
: " favorable to the growth of timothy when
. il is once appropriated to its use, and that
= the crop is maintained for long lime.
is In top.dressing with stable manure.
make it a point to SOW plaster upon it as soon
;. as can after it is applied, and the more
e manure put, tle HoIe pidsio' SOW, more
}. being required 10 arrest ammonia in It's es'
! cape.
f; As an instance of the effect of clover
h will mention that know a meadow which
n twenty years ago was barren waste-,he
soil heavy, and the water, in the spring
i months, escaped from i, by flowing over il.
e surface no grass grew upon it. 1t was
summer falowed and sowed with rye tim.
j. o,hy and clover seed little manure was
it put on part of ii. 1t has never been ma.
= nured since, excep, by plaster the hay from
i. has always been sold and averages about
m two tons 10 the acre ii is in clover abou
r, one quarter of tho time, aad is managed a,
III have described in this article the soil j.
: now very light, and the water soaks away
II freely.
ID When will farmers stop numbering theiI
meadows, and keep more stock which they
!, may do under better system. Better soil
ID the cattle with green corn, sown FOR that pnr.
g pose. or clover, than to pasture SO close
Amer. Quar-. Jour. of Agricul.