LIME. 77 



If the lime is to be spread upon an old field, some 

 recommend that it should be applied to the sward 

 before the plough enters, or the surface is bro- 

 ken. 



Other writers on lime say, that it should be plough- 

 ed in a few days before seeding. But if the ground 

 be new, they say it should be spread upon the sur- 

 face, ploughed under in autumn, and ploughed to the 

 surface again in the ensuing spring. I must confess 

 that this strikes me as being a very good plan. In 

 planting corn, I have not a doubt but that this is 

 the very best plan that could be pursued. 



Chemists have demonstrated the positive fact, that 

 lime forms a part of the composition of nearly all veg- 

 etables, and hence we find that it has been known 

 from time immemorial. 



There is a great diversity of opinion with respect 

 to the quantity of lime necessary to be spread upon 

 a given number of acres. There appears to be no 

 certain quantity used in England, varying from two 

 to six hundred bushels. My opinion is, that where 

 the soil is sandy, the quantity of Kme should be in pro- 

 portion to the quantity of vegetable matter contained 

 therein. In France, they use small quantities, declar- 

 ing that from twenty-five to thirtybushels are sufficient 

 at one time. In America, also, the quantity varies 

 from sixty to three hundred bushels per acre. Six hun- 

 dred bushels have been applied to strong clayey soils, 



but this quantity would be too much for sandy lands. 



7* 



