lo ()(!.. 191-2. J The Practice oj Liming. 611 



Quantity per Acre and Frequency of Application. 



The quantity of these various lime compounds to be used will depend 

 on the nature of the soil, the ol)ject of the application, the form in which 

 the lime is applied, and the cost of the mat< rial. The maximum dressing 

 will be required on stiff clay soils, in which it is desired to effect an im- 

 provement in the physical condition, or on peaty soils rich in decaving 

 organic matter. The minimum dressing is required for light open soils 

 deficient in organic matter. On these latter soils, indeed, the use of 

 (luicklime, especially in large quantities, should be avoided. Ground 

 limestone or " unhurnt lime '" will give far more satisfactory results. 



For stiff cla\ soils or sour peatv soils which have never yet received 

 any lime, very little material effect will be observable with a lighter 

 dressing than 10 cwt. of quicklime, or its e(]uivalent in slaked lime, while 

 con.siderably heavier dressings mav be applied with profit. To bring 

 about a material improvement in the mechanical condition of very stiff 

 clays from i to 2 tons of lime mav be necessary for an initial dressing, 

 and this will be sufficient for a number of years. Such a heavy dressing 

 ma\ seem at first sight a verv improfitable venture to farmers accustomed 

 to an annual expenditure of js. di^. to 5s. per acre for artificial manures. 

 It must be remembered, however, that with a dressing of lime the effects 

 last for a long period, and the initial cnsi mu.st be spread over a period 

 of years. 



On lands rich in decaying organic matter, and in reclaimed swamps, a 

 very liberal application of lime will also be necessary to insure the best 

 results. On light soils, loose and open in character, application of lime 

 must be smaller. If these soils are wanting in organic matter, carbonate 

 of lime should be used in preference to quicklime or slaked lin;;e. Car- 

 bonate of lime is mild in its action, and it may be applied to anv .soil 

 without danger. 



Marl, which is an impure form of carbonate of lime, is usually applied 

 in very heavy dressings, amounting to tons per acre, but on account ot 

 freight its use must necessarily be confined to the neighbourhood of marl pits. 



Many years ago it was the custom in Europe to apply lime in very 

 larg^^ dressings at long intervals of time. Frequently 5 tons per acre were 

 applied. Recent investigations in America have conclusively demon- 

 strated the futilitv of this practice. It is now generally recognised th.it 

 the secret of success in liming iand is to apply the lime in comparatively 

 small doses at frequent intervals and to stiff lement the dressing of lime 

 with organic matter and phosphites. 



Professor Wright, of Glasgow, carried out a series of experiments with 

 lime over a period of eight years. He applied 4 tons of lime per acre 

 in one, two, four, and eight applications to four different experimental 

 plots. As a result of the first eight years' work, he says. " The largest 

 increases of crops were obtained in this experiment from annual applications 

 of TO cwts. of burnt lime per acre. Applications of 5 to 10 cwts. per 

 acre per annum gave profitable results, but larger dressings of i, 2. and 

 4 tons proved very unprofitable." — (Tenth report. West of Scotland Agri- 

 cultural College, 1 91 1.) It must be added that the soil on which Professor 

 Wright was working was a loam in high condition. 



Mode of Application. 

 Lime may be applied bv hand, with ordinarv fertilizer drills, or by 

 means of specially constructed limespreaders. The advantages of the lime- 

 spreaders are that comparatively small amounts may be spread with great 

 regularity, and with the minimum of labour and of physical discomfort. 



