Another general remark occurs; that is, concerning the utility of spreading dung with accuracy ; in other words, dividing it into the minutest partich:s, thereby giving every part of the ground an equal supply of food. This practice was miserably neglected in Ibriner times, and is still less attended to than its importance deserves. In fact, km operations call more loudly for the atten tion of the farmer; and none in which a more general improvement has taken place. The superficial and ski \ cult' way in which dung was formerly spread, must be fresh in the memories of most people. In many instan ces, the big heap was only broken down, as it were, into a number of small ones; and as for tearing or shaking the dung asunder, such an idea then rarely entered into the head of any man; though it is obvious,that without making a complete separation, the article could neither he sufficiently covered in, nor its virtues be conveyed to the soil. Perhaps the increased attention now bestowed, in all the cultivated districts, to the spreading of dung, originated from the measure of limiting the quantity ap plied. When forty, fifty, nay even sixty double loads were applied to an acre, it was not very difficult to cover its surface, even with an imperfect separation, though it certainly was impracticable to bury the big lumps with a furrow of ordinary size ; but when the quantity was brought down to eighteen and twenty loads, and, more so, when twelve or fourteen loads were thought suffi cient, a ditThrent conduct became absolutely necessary. Another improvement also followed, viz. spreading dung when raw or green, that is, immediately alter the carts; in which way, at least during summer, it will be sepa rated at one half of the expense, and to much better purpose than when it is suffered to lie in the heap for a day or two. In short, it is a sure mark of a slovenly farmer, to sec clung remain unspread in the field, unless it be in the winter months, when it may happen that hands cannot be got for carrying on such operations with the usual regularity. At that time the injury sus tained by losing a few days is not great, though, as a general rule, it will be found that the expense is always smallest when the carts arc regularly followed up.
Having made these preliminary remarks, we proceed to say a few \cords on the application of dung.
When turnip husbandry forms the chief branch of fallow process, dung is naturally of a superior quality, and requires little artificial management for bringing it to a proper state of preparation. In the greatest part of Scotland, and even in England, where the drill and horse-hoeing system is practised, the common, and undoubtedly the most approved way of applying dung to turnips, is by laying it in the intervals of the drills or small ridges, which are previously made up by a bout, or two furrows of the plough. These drills or ridges are formed at a distance of from to 30 inches from the centre of each ; and by driving the horses and cart along the middle one of the space intended to be manured, the dung is drawn out either by the carter, or by another man specially appointed for that purpose, in such proportions as the poverty of the soil, or the disposition of the occupier, may reckon necessary. If the breadth of three drills arc only taken at a time, the dung stands a better chance of being regularly adminis tered ; for it often happens, that when a greater number are included in one space, the two outside drills receive a less quantity than the intervening ones. Those, there fore, who limit themselves to these drills, generally divide the spreaders ; as it requires six hands, women or boys, to follow up what is usually called a head of earls, the number of carts to a head being regulated by the distance of the dunghill, or the kind of road over which it is to be carried. Others, again, thinking that by manuring only three drills at a tone, the travel of the horses is greatly increased, and time wasted when it is particularly precious, take live drills into one space. and, by putting the strongest hands to the two outside drills, making these go in front, thereby getting the first of each heap, and placing an able confidential ser vant to assist and superintena the whole, tonsich•r that the work is equally well performed, while a greater quantity is put through their hands in a ;Olen time.
Both plans have their votaries, though the difference between them is not of much consequence. The main objects are, to provide a proper bed for the (lung, which is easily done by holding a deep furrow when the drills are first made up ; and to shake it well asunder, ur di vide it into the smallest parts, so that an instant and complete separation may take place. To accomplish this in the most perfect manner, hand-work in some places is resorted to ; but the common custom is to do it with small light grapes, or forks ; and it is wonderful how adroitly the spreading is performed by small boys and girls, after they are a little time accustomed to the task.
The quantity of dung usually given for turnips i, from twelve to fifteen double cart loads, of one and a half cubic yards to a Scots acre. In some cases only ten loads are given ; but the land ought to be in high coadition where such a small quantity is bestowed. In fact, no soil can be made too rich for turnips or other green crops, pease excepted ; but the object to be at tended to in this, and every other case, is an a.11otmen1 of the manure collected upon the premises, in such t. way as that the greatest possible return over the whole farm, not from a particular field, may be gained by the occupier.
As to the mode of applying clung to potatoes, a few particulars may be stated. The culture of this esculent is in several respects similar to that of turnips, but in others it differs materially. Potatoes are planted earlier in the season than turnips ; the ground rarely receives so much work ; the soils upon which they are cultivated are 1110re variable ; and the dung considered to be most suitable for promoting their growth, does not require such high preparation. 1\ [any farmers, notwithstanding these circumstances, follow out the same process as described under the head of turnips. After the ground receives three, or at most four ploughings, the drills are made up, dung deposited in the intervals, the seed planted above the dung, and the drills reversed ; after which, say at the distance of two or three weeks, a slight harrowing is given. Several objections occur to this mode ; such as, that the seed is generally kept too near the surface, which, in dry seasons, proves unravutnable to the crop; the dung, unless it be very short, is apt to be drawn up by the harrows, and the seed removed from its original birth. These things induce other far mers (and probably they are right) to adopt a different system : They avoid making up drills, but clung the ground in what may be called the broad-cast way ; and, entering the plough, plant the seed in every third fur row, into which only the clung is raked ; and so on till the whole is finished. Before 'he young plants appear, or even after they our above the surface, a complete harrowing is given, which is considered as equal to a hand-hoeing ; and from the clung being completely co vexed, scarce any of it is up, while the seed, being undermost, none of it is disturbed by the opera tion. Both modes have their advantages and disadvan tages. The first is carried on with less trouble, and more regularity ; the last, perhaps with most advantage to the crop, especially on heavy soils—the seed furrow loosening the ground more effectually than can be done by the forming of (hills. Several farmers do not clung their potatoc fields ; but, reserving the manure till the crop is removed, find the remainder of the rotation greatly benefited. Potatoes scourge severely, and, in general eases, require a larger quantity of dung than turnips ; but as the extent of land limier this culture is not great in common farming, few people grudge this extra quantity, because, except in a few favoured situations, a good crop cannot otherwise be reasonably expected.