450 



which has been subjected to the ordinary ciiltivatiou of a farm, iu which 

 there is the usual amouut of vef;etation, or where the farmer can pre- 

 cede the spread of lime with a coat of barn-yard manure, 60 bushels to 

 the acre is a proper quantity, and if this be applied in two successive 

 seasons it will be better. Upon limestone laud which has undergone 

 like cultivation, double the quantity may be used. 



The property of lime is to convert vegetable substances into plant- 

 food, and mineral substances into the component parts of straw ; so that, 

 while it prepares food to increase the quantity and quality of the grain, 

 it furnishes a bright and strong straw to conduct that food to the 

 making of grain and supports its weight. A prejudice once existed 

 against the use of lime, under the idea that it heated the land, and 

 thereby subjected the plant the more to the influence of the hot sun. 

 There could be no greater mistake than this, for lime has a magnetic 

 influence which draws to itself all the moisture that abounds in the 

 atmosphere, and thereby makes laud less subject to the influence of the 

 hot sun. As to the conditiou of the laud when lime is used one other 

 remark must be made. It should never be put upou land on which 

 water habitually lies until the same be thoroughly drained. And here, 

 in reference to the prevalent idea that lime will dry up wet land, it 

 may be said that it will have no such effect, but, on the contrary, will 

 destroy the character of such land for any purpose. Standing-water, 

 lime, and sand will make a substance adapted to the builder's purpose, 

 but does not make a fertile soil. There is much difference iu the quality 

 of material for making lime. In some stone, magnesia prevails largely 

 and this is less profitable. That which makes the best mortar is the 

 strongest and best for land. The experience of the builder, in his 

 choice for mortar, is a good guide for the farmer. Oyster-shells make 

 the best of lime. How a farmer who has access to limestone or oyster- 

 shells may make his own lime is worthy of his study. I do not propose 

 to treat of the nse of a lime-kiln, for if the farmer has one of his own, he, 

 of course, knows how to use it; but to burn lime in a stack, at any place 

 which may be made convenient by the location of the stone-quarry or 

 shells, in its details is worthy of consideration. If stone is to be burned 

 with coal, the size should not exceed two pounds in weight, and built 

 in conical form, the outer walls being so carefully laid as to contain the 

 weight within. I may illustrate it by describing a kiln as 30 feet long, 

 18 feet wide at the base, and tapering gradually and regularly on all 

 sides to the height of 12 feet. This is made up of alternate layers of 

 the stone and coal, requiring, for a kiln of this size, about 22 tons of 

 coal, and which will produce about 2,603 bushels of unslaked lime. 

 This kiln should be built upon six trenches at least one foot square, 

 which are filled with dry wood, and the whole bottom covered with light 

 dry material, such as old rails, stumps, corn-cobs, &c., which will serve 

 to light the coal which is to do the work of burning the stone or shells 

 into lime. A trench may then be dug around the kiln, which will fur- 

 nish the clay for making the mortar with which the whole outside must 

 be closely covered, and if straw or chaff be mixed with the plaster, it 

 will be less likely to crack and suffer the escape of heat. The size of 

 the kiln may be increased to almost any extent, and perhaps the larger 

 it is the more profitable will be the result, increasing the base and 

 height as well as the length. I may suggest that to build at the base 

 of a rise of ground makes it more convenient to wheel stone upon the 

 kiln in its construction. A ton of coal in a kiln thus properly constructed 

 should produce 120 bushels; and to enable a farmer to estimate the 

 quantity of coal required, and the number of bushels of lime which will 



