1006. Manure for Clover.—Some farmers make it a rule to spread about fifty bushels per acre of ashes over their clover in March, which they find, from long experience, to be a good manure for this grass. Wood-ashes will be useful on any soil; coal-ashes chiefly on stiff clays. On the stiff soils of some parts of Buckinghamshire, ashes of all kinds are much esteemed, and have risen to a high price.
1007. How to preserve Manure.—Put it in heaps, and cover it with earth two feet deep. Never leave manure in the barn yard; put it all, year by year, on your land.
1008. Dr. Taylor's Easy Method of ascertaining the Qualities of Marl, Lime Stones, or Quick Lime, for the purposes of Agriculture.—This was a communication by Dr. Taylor to the Manchester Agricultural Society; the general use of marl and lime as manures, having prompted him to point out the importance of an easy and certain method of determining the qualities of different earths and stones, and ascertaining the quantity of calcareous earth in their composition; their value, in agriculture, commonly increasing in proportion to the greater quantity of it which they contain. The process recommended is thus described:—The marl or stone being dried, and reduced to powder, put half an ounce of it into a half pint glass, pouring in clear water till the glass is half full; then gradually add a small quantity of strong marine acid, commonly called spirit of salt, and stir the mixture well together. As soon as the effervescence thus excited subsides, add a little more marine acid; thus continuing the operation while any of the earthy matter appears to dissolve; and till the liquor, after being well stirred and allowed to stand for half an hour, appears sensibly acid to the taste. When the mixture has subsided, if the liquor above it be colorless, that marl or lime-stone is the best which leaves the least in quantity of sediment or deposit in the bottom of the glass. This experiment is sufficient to determine which of the samples tried is the most proper for the uses of agriculture: as pure calcareous earth or lime, which is the earth useful in agriculture, will be entirely dissolved; but clay or sand will not be sensibly acted on by the acid. Where great accuracy is required in determining the experiment, lay a soft spongy paper, of which the weight is exactly taken, in an earthen colander—for no metallic vessel, or implement for stirring, &c., must be used in any part of the process—and, pouring the saturated mixture of earth and acid on it, let all the liquor filter through, then pour a little clear water over the earthy matter remaining on the filter; and, when that water has also filtered through, dry the paper with the earthy matter on it which remains undissolved, when the deficiency found, on weighing them, from their original weight, will discover what portion of the marle or lime has been dissolved in the acid. What quantity of earthy matter has been dissolved may be made evident to the sight, by gradually adding, to the liquor which has been filtered through the paper, a clear solution of pearl-ashes, or ashes of burnt wood; this will occasion a precipitation of the contained lime or calcareous earth to the bottom of the vessel, which precipitate must be dried and weighed.
1009. To preserve Seeds, when sown, from Vermin.—Steep the grain or seed three or four hours, or a sufficient time for it to penetrate the skin, or husk, in a strong solution of liver of sulphur.
1010. Striped Grass recommended for Hay.—The Indian striped or riband grass, which is cultivated in gardens, would answer admirably for hay. In rich grounds plants are frequently four feet high; what a burden of hay would a field so cropped produce! Cattle are exceedingly fond of it; the seeds are easily saved, so that a person might soon have enough for a rood, and from that save again and again, for as many acres as he might choose. It is probable that the crop might be much too large to be made on the field where it grew; but if so, it would be worth while to carry part into another field.