good grass.

Numerous experiments on top-dressing meadows are reported from year to
year. The results, of course, differ considerably, being influenced by
the soil and season. The profit of the practice depends very much on the
price of hay. In the Eastern States, hay generally commands a higher
relative price than grain, and it not unfrequently happens that we can
use manure on grass to decided advantage.

The celebrated experiments of Messrs. Lawes & Gilbert with "Manures on
Permanent Meadow-land" were commenced in 1856, and have been continued
on the same plots every year since that time.

"You need not be afraid, Deacon," said I, as the old gentleman commenced
to button up his coat, "I am not going into the details of these
wonderful experiments; but I am sure you will be interested in the
results of the first six or seven years."

The following table explains itself:

Experiments with Manures on Permanent Meadow land at Rothamsted,
England.

Hay/Acre 20th (1875): Hay per Acre the 20th Season, 1875.
Total/Acre: Total Hay (per) Acre.

---+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| | Annual Produce of Hay |
| | per Acre in Lbs. |
| +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| Description and Amount of |1856|1857|1858|1859|1860|1861|1862|
| Manures per Acre. | | | | | | | |
---+-------------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
1 |No manure |2433|2724|3116|2558|2822|3074|3238|
2{|400 lbs. ammonia-salts = 82 | | | | | | | |
{| lbs. of nitrogen |4028|3774|3982|3644|2940|3808|3854|
| | | | | | | | |
3 |Superphosphate of lime | | | |2828|3176|3400|3252|
4{|400 lbs. ammonia-salts and | | | | | | | |
{| superphosphate of lime | | | |4996|4788|4968|4756|
5 |Mixed mineral manures |3429|3666|4082|3416|3928|4488|4424|
6 |400 lbs. ammonia-salts and | | | | | | | |
| mixed mineral manures |6363|6422|7172|6198|5624|6316|6402|
7 |800 lbs. ammonia-salts and | | | | | | | |
| mixed mineral manures |7054|6940|7508|7150|5744|67