42 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



a more energetic action, and where it is found in lime, the 

 same result will be produced by the application of a less 

 quantity. 



The amount of Lime to be used, depends entirely on the 

 soil. Some fertile lands contain over 30 per cent, in their 

 natural state. The large amount, of more than 600 bushels 

 of lime per acre, has been applied at one time, to heavy 

 clays, and such soils as were full of vegetable mold, with de- 

 cided benefit to the land. But equally beneficial results 

 would have been produced, had one half the quantity been 

 first added, and 50 bushels every third or fourth year subse- 

 quently. In the United States, the average for a first dress- 

 ing, is from 50 to 120 bushels per acre. This may be re- 

 newed every four or five years, at the rate of 20 to 40 bush- 

 els. If an overdose has been applied, time, or the addition 

 of putrescent or green manures, are the only correctives. 



To give lime its fullest eifect, it should be kept as near the 

 surface as possible ; and for this reason, it is well to spread 

 it after plowing, taking care to harrow it well in. Allow it 

 then to remain in grass as long as profitable. Its weight and 

 minuteness give it a tendency to sink ; and after a few years 

 of cultivation, a large portion of it will be found to have got 

 beyond the depth of its most efficient action. Where lime 

 is used, this tendency gives additional- value to the system 

 of underdraining and subsoil plowing, which enables the 

 atmosphere and roots to follow it, thus prolonging its effect, 

 and greatly augmenting the benefit to crops. It should be 

 spread upon the ground immediately after taking off the last 

 crop, so as to allow the longest time for its action before 

 the next planting. 



Application to Meadows. In addition to its other good 

 effects, lime, like ashes, is useful to meadows in destroying 

 the mosses, and decomposing the accumulated vegetable 

 matters on the surface. For this purpose, it may be spread 

 on them unmixed, after having first passed into the state of 

 carbonate or effete lime, to prevent injury to the grass. If 

 no such necessity require its use in this form, it may be com- 

 bined advantageously with the muck and scattered broad- 

 cast over the meadow. 



MARLS. 



Marls are composed of carbonate of lime, mixed with clay, 

 sand, or loam, and frequently with sulphate and phosphate 

 of lime. They are a useful application to land in proportion 



