THE 
zt * 
PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 
DECEMBER 1799. 
ee ee eS : 
{. On different Sorts of Lime ufed in Agriculture. By 
SMITHSON TENNANT, E/g. F.R.S.* 
if WAS informed laft fummer, that, in the neighbourhood 
of Doncafter, two kinds of lime were employed in agricul. 
ture, which were fuppofed to differ materially in their effects. 
One of thefe, which was procured near the town, it was ne- 
ceffary to ufe fparingly, aud to fpread very evenly over the 
land: for it was faid, that a large proportion of it, inftead of 
increafing, diminithed the fertility of the foil; and that, 
wherever a heap of it was left in one fpot, all vegetation was 
prevented for many years. Fifty or fixty bufhels upon an 
acre, were confidered to be as much as could be ufed with 
advantage, The other fort of lime, which was obtained from 
a village near Ferry-bridge, though confiderably dearer from 
the diftant carriage, was more frequently employed, on account 
of its fuperior utility. A large quantity was never found 
to be injurious; and the fpots which were entirely covered 
with it, inftead of being rendered barren, became remark= ~ 
ably fertile. The different properties afcribed to thefe twe 
kinds of lime were fo very diftin@t, that it feemed probable 
they could not be imaginary; and it therefore appeared to 
be worth the trouble of afcertaining them more fully, and 
* From the Phil. Tran/. of the Roval Society for 1799, Fart IT. 
Vou, V. Ee of 
