40 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



be stated as an incontrovertible truth, that wherever procu- 

 rable at low prices, lime is one of the most economical and 

 efficient agents in securing fertility, within the farmer's 

 reach. 



It has been falsely said to be an exhauster of soils ; that 

 it enriches the fathers and impoverishes the sons. So far as 

 it gives the occupant of the land the control over its latent 

 fertility, this is true ; but if he squanders the rich products 

 when within his reach, it will be his own fault. Lime gives 

 him the power of exhausting his principal ; if he uses 

 aught beyond the interest, his prodigality is chargeable to 

 his own folly, not to the liberality of his agent. By the ad- 

 dition of lime to the soil, the insoluble ingredients contained 

 in it are set free, and they are thus enabled to aid in the for- 

 mation of plants ; and larger crops, and of better quality, 

 are the results. If these be taken from the soil without a 

 corresponding return of manure, exhaustion must follow. 

 In the preceding table, it is seen, that lime constitutes, in 

 all cases, only a very minute part of the entire plant ; all the 

 other ingredients must be added, or the fertility of the soil 

 cannot be sustained. But in the very abundance of the 

 crops which lime affords, means are provided for the main- 

 tainence of the highest fertility. If they are consumed on 

 the farm, their manure should be returned to the fields ; and 

 if sold, other manures should be procured to replace the sub- 

 stances from which they are formed. 



A practice which has extensively prevailed for many 

 years, in sections of the eastern states, consists in alternating 

 wheat and clover on strongly limed-lands. The plan usu- 

 ally adopted, is to give one year to ' wheat, and one or two 

 folio wing, to clover ; sometimes taking off the first clover crop 

 for hay, and feeding off upon the ground, and plowing in, 

 the after growth for manure ; and upon this, wheat is again 

 sown. This course has succeeded in bringing into fine con- 

 dition, many unprofitable fields. It may work well for 

 years, but it is nevertheless faulty and improvident. Lime 

 only is added directly to the soil, but the clover draws from 

 the air and moisture, whatever food it can attract from them. 

 There remain to be supplied, potash, soda, the phosphates 

 and silicates, (which the soil will soon cease to furnish suffi- 

 cient for the wants of the wheat and clover removed), or 

 sterility must inevitably follow- 



The best method is to add in some form, the full 

 amount of all the materials abstracted by the annual crop. 



