90 [Senate 



penetrated beyond this, active fermentation has commenced in the long 

 manure, and thus fertilizing matters are furnished in the greatest 

 abundance when most wanted by the plant. 



Of the mineral manures used, lime, as has been already stated, is 

 the most important,- and under all its forms, is extensively used ia 

 Europe and in this country. The German farmers of 

 im . L^j^(.^g|-gj-^ Chester, and the adjoining counties of Pennsyl- 

 vania, use lime more extensively than in any other part of this coun- 

 try. Considerable discussion has been had at different times as to 

 the comparative value of limes that contain magnesia,, or such as are 

 free from it; but the value of lime as a dressing for soils, seems to be 

 every where conceded in those districts where it has been used. It 

 appears as the result of experience,- that lime produces the best effect 

 on what are called stiff loams, or loams inclining to clay, and in which 

 a good proportion of decayed organic matter is found. It is foundy 

 too, that it operates more favorably on soils natural to oak and its 

 kindred trees, such as walnut, poplar, &c. than on those where the 

 beech, elm and maple constitute the principal timber.^ It is singular 

 that the richest limestone lands, as they are called from being based 

 on this rock, are frequently those on w^hich heavy dressings of lime 

 operate like a charm. If used as a top dressing, lime is usually ap- 

 plied to the sod in the fall; but the practice most approved, is to lime 

 the corn ground in the spring, on the inverted sod.. Manure is appli- 

 ed to the wheat crop after lime,. The quantity of lime used varies 

 much. There is no doubt it has sometimes been used in excessive 

 quantities; and when used on soils nearly destitute of vegetable mat- 

 ter, can produce no good effect. On a medium soil, fifty bushels per 

 acre may be considered an abundant dressing;, bat three or four times 

 that quantity is sometimes used. The best method of using lime, is 

 to take it from the kiln, unslacked, and deposit it in heaps in the 

 field where it is to be used, not more than three or four bushels in a 

 place; and either slack it by pouring water over it, or, which is bet- 

 ter, by covering each pile with earth, and letting them slack by the 

 moisture thus furnished. When sufficiently fine, the earth and the 

 lime are mixed by shoveling over, and the mass is then scattered over 

 the land to be dressed. The soil should be well harrowed after the 

 application of lime, to incorporate it more completely with the sur- 

 face earth. 



