The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-27
Laying Down, r.ar.ds 10 7rnas.


The laying down Of lands to grass Il re-
ceiVing more attention than formerly. The
hlgh price of labor and the Use of improved
IL Iinacninery have rendered the production of
isgnt crops on uneven land Improbable.
oiean, smooth surface and good crops IL the
:inotto OF good farmers. Many old fields are
undergoing change; the old apple and other;
Trees are dug out by the roots boulders and
stones are removed or sunk below the slIr.
luce portions which are wet and produce
coarse Watergrnss are drained, either bv omen
altehes or underdrains, which are much the
most satisfactory. Cultivated grasses soon
ulsappear rom excess of water. When the oh
sIsuctlons are removed, the land Is plouehed.
the slde-hill or swivel ploughs are mreh in
favor, rs they leave noridges or dead burrows
TO obstruet the mower. The quality of tho
work done with the plough has much TO do
with successful management. Poor plough
ing does not pay anywhere.
When the land has been narrowed. fert;}-
i2ers are applied. 1t does not nav to reseed
WITHOUT manure; from FIVE to ten cords of
parn-yard manure are applied to the acre.
experience has demonstrated that manure
LOT grass has double the effect applied to the
surface than when ploughcd under. It was
formerly custom to apply coating or sand
OF grHVel 10 peat or clay lands, without other
manures, which produced good crops for q
number of years. The amount of labor re-
quired has generally caused this to be aban-
doned; the demand now is for concentrated
manures. which can be easily applied.
a chemist found 1900 pounds of manure
taken from the yard of 4 neighbor, which
was ialr average quality made on the farms
throughout the county, to contain $500
M nd tha
II pounds, worthless matter. The constitu-
ent elements Of this "A pounds could then be
purchased in the market for 1856. while the
manure would bring ST. Here is question
which may be considered with profit: Do we
not handle more worthless matter than is ne
cessary? The light of science has been shed
on agriculture sufficiently to show some of
the clements which must be returned to the
soil in order to produce paying crops and
if these elements are to be obtained at a fair
price they may be applied directly to the
land i'll the pure state with rs good results as
in the combination with worthless matter.
Lcached ashes from the soap works and I'M
leached from the lime-kilns are applied on
most soils with satisfaction. From 100 to
$50 bushels to the acre produce good crops
for six to eight years in succession. They
are regarded as cheap and reliable as any ma
nure that can be purchased.
But dust or bone manure is used with good
success; dressing of 500 to 1000 pounds to
the acre is sufficient, and has 4 lasting effect.
Raw bone is not very satisfactory in its re-
suits, being too slow to act. Composted. with
twice its bulk Of loan and allowed to heat, it
becomes Immediately available; failure with
the bone may often be attributed to this.
Nitrate of soda has been used, and is said
to be valuable, but has not been used great
deal in this county from 800 to 800 pounds
to the acre are sufficient; ut the price it llsl-
ally sells it would not be very expensive
| manure.
Glmno and superphosphates are used with
good results. The uncertainty in the quality
of concentrated manures is drawback to
their general use; when good, disappoint-
ment often occurs from improper application;
only slight covering is necessary. When
| deeply covered they often do not show any
benefit. Hay produced from land manurcd
with concentrated manures is not so valuable
for feeding as other hay.
After the manure is applied, the surface
made smooth and the cobble-stones removed
the land is fit for the seed. August and
until the 10th of September is u favorable
time to sow. Sown just before rain, il
comes up quickly and gets good stand be-
fore winter, and does not easily kill out. Just
before the ground closes for the season and
early in March, arc fayorite seasons witt
others. Sown at the latter time, no covering
need be used at any time only ight cover
ing should be made; light brush is all tina
need be used The brush harrow is yalua
bic implement in laying down land; it level
the surface, preparing it in good shape TO
the mower; from its chcapness and simplicit,
| its merits have been overlooked. Many Us
it instead OF the roller on many fields: bot
can be used with profit. A leveltield in goo'
condition, producing two tons or more to th
acre, is pleasant sight. and should rehec
credit on its owner.-W. Brorn, Hanpto
Falls, II. H., an Country Gentleman.