12 THE CULINARY GARLEK. 



often found to be intimately mixed, or ratlier conso- 

 lidated with the soil, in considerable masses, which 

 are adhesive and very ponderous. * Such soils are 

 the most unfavourable to vegetation of any; and are 

 quite ineligible for the purpose here in view, with- 

 out being nuich improved. For this purpose, lime 

 will be found the most serviceable of all things, if 

 judiciously applied, and the soil be frequently turn- 

 ed over by digging or trenching; so as that the soil 

 and the lime may be intimately mixed together, and 

 that tlie atmosphere may have full eftectupon them; 

 for without this, the lime wall not operate so effec- 

 tually, nor will the tilly particles of the soil be di- 

 vided or be meliorated so well. 



It may seem unnecessary to observe, that accord- 

 ing to tlie quantity of irony matter contained in the 

 soil, lime will be required to reduce it. In order 

 to ascertain this quantity, a magnet will be found 

 useful ; and, by one of the masses being calcined, 

 and then reduced to a powder, will separate the 

 irony particles from the soil or residuum ; sliowing 

 the proportion of iron, and of earth. Thus we may 

 judge what quantity of lime v>ill be required to 

 fertilize the soil; taking for the extremes inordi- 

 nary cases, and supposing the lime of a middling 

 quality, 150 and 400 Winchester bushels an acre ; 

 applying the lime in a quick or ])owdercd state, and 

 properly working the soil ; being carefid, in the 

 lirst place, to drain it of superabundant moisture. 



^' The Meadow Iron-ore of nuueraIo"ists. 



