THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



423 



exception of the above, as it does not exhaust the 

 vegetable matter in any {greater quantity than is re- 

 quired for the growth of the crop. The trifling 

 saving which might be gained by the immediate 

 application of caustic lime would never pay for its 

 injurious efiects on all soils, excepting those which 

 contain large quantities of organic matters requiring 

 to be dissipated. Besides, caustic lime should not 

 be used in contact with seeds or herbage; and 

 when applied to cb.ys for the purpose of improving 

 the texture of the soil, it frequently causes quite the 

 contrary effect, as it unites in a mortar with the 

 clay, causing it to harden and form cakes. In 

 most all cases, we think it is self-evident that lime 

 should be applied after air-slacking, in its mild 

 (carbonated) form. 



We are frequently asked whether lime will 

 benefit soils associated with limestone rocks. Such 



soils frequently contain lime in sufficient quantities ; 

 but this is not invariably the case, as soils some- 

 times resting on limestone, or abounding in loose 

 limestone and shells, are frequently devoid of lime 

 in such a form as to be useful. "We can only ac- 

 count for this phenomenon by supposing that the 

 soil was originally derived from some otlier source 

 than these rocks, or that the firm texture of them 

 has prevented their crumbling enough to benefit 

 the land. Thus it often proves that liming is bene- 

 ficial on what is called limestone land. We should 

 advise its use in small quantities at first on such 

 lands, without the owner ih perfectly satisfied by 

 analysis that his land is totally deficient. By 

 pouring muriatic acid or vinegar on a small portion, 

 he can at least tell if it contains lime to any con- 

 siderable degree. — G. T. H. in the "Country 

 Gentleman." 



SEA-WEED. 



This is a valuable manure for almost any descrip- 

 tion of soil, from the light sands to the heavy and 

 viscid clays. No one, who has experienced the bene- 

 ficial results attending its application, will doubt its 

 value, especially when applied as a top-dressing to 

 lands in grass. Ihe most proper season for remov- 

 ing and spreading it, we are informed by those ac- 

 customed to its use, is immediately after haying ; or 

 if it cannot be conveniently done at that time, the 

 work may be deferred till after harvest. It is a 

 judicious plan to mix this weed with loam or muck, 

 forming it into a sort of compost. The mass should 

 be frequently turned. If convenient, ashes, lime, 

 plaster, and clay may be added, depending consid- 

 erably upon what kind of soil the mass is to be ap- 

 plied to J but it should not be permitted to decay in 

 a heap by itself, as in this case the limited amount 

 of fibrous or ligneous substance contained in the 

 mass causes it to decompose almost "to nothing" — 

 a slight residuum only being left after decompo- 

 sition, and this of a very weak character, and not, 

 perhaps, of sufficient value to warrant its applica- 

 tion to the soil. 



Muscle shells, and the rich, unctuous and viscid 

 sand abounding along the coasts and on the shores 

 of creeks, are other important and valuable elements 

 of fertility, and when spread upon soils of every de- 

 scription, produce highly beneficial results. This 

 sand is composed principally of animal and vegeta- 

 l)le substances, intermixed with the exuvia of testa- 

 ceous and crustaceous insects, saline particles, and 

 an extremely fine sedimentary substance deposited 

 by the waters of the ocean, together with carbonate 

 and hydrate of lime, animal matter, and earth. The 

 intermixing of these several substances constitutes 

 that highly efficient fertilizing mass denominated 

 sea mud, or " flats." 



When a farmer can obtain a sufficiency of this 

 article with which to dress his lands, he need not 

 fear the failure of his crops for lack of manure. 

 Sea-weed, and sea mud, or " flats," constitute an 



excellent substitute for animal excrement and com- 

 post, and almost supersede the necessity of the lat- 

 ter, in ordinary husbandry. If the weeds and mud 

 should be taken out after haying, and placed in the 

 barn or compost yard, with common muck, mould, 

 and vegetable matters of a succulent and perisha- 

 ble character, or thrown into heaps with forest 

 leaves, straw, weeds, &c., it would decompose, and 

 by the next spring furnish an invigorating manure 

 for every description of crop. 



There is abundant testimony of the value of sea- 

 weed as a manure, in the books. Many years ago, 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 

 charged an intelligent committee with the labour of 

 investigating its composition and value, and their 

 report is highly favourable. Dr. Holland, in his 

 "Survey of Cheshire," says, "The ground thus 

 manured not only gives a larger produce of pota- 

 toes, but is in a state of excellent preparation for a 

 succeeding crop of either wheat or barley." In a 

 work by the Rev. Philip Falle, upon the island 

 of Jersey, whence we obtain the famous Jersey 

 cattle, he says that "Nature having denied us the 

 benefit of chalk, hme and marl, has supplied us 

 with what fully answers the end of them in husban- 

 dry — it is a sea-weed, but a weed more valuable to 

 us than the choicest plant that grows in our gar- 

 dens. * * * Being spread thin on the green turf, 

 and afterwards buried in furrows by the plough, 

 it is incredible how, with its fat unctuous sub- 

 stance, it ameliorates the ground, imbibing itself 

 into it, softening the clod, and keeping the root 

 of the corn moist during the most parching heats 

 of summer." 



We are aware that our friends on the sea-shore, 

 who have access to this plant, value it highly. We 

 suggest whether it has not sufficient value to justify 

 its being collected away from our immediate shores, 

 and landed up the creeks, and in such places as to 

 bring it into the vicinity of a large extent of farm- 

 ing country. 



