VI.] ECONOMICAL USE OF LIME. 59 



in the case of the builder, but it is equally a loss to the 

 farmer whether he knows it or not. Lime is, after all, 

 an expensive manure before it is got upon the land, 

 and it is unwise to allow it to waste. 



113. A proper system having been adopted for 

 slaking the lime, it should not be opened to the air 

 until it is going to be spread over the land. When it 

 has been spread, it should be at once harrowed 

 into the soil, thus bringing it so into contact with 

 the soil, that it will exert its powers upon it, rather 

 than allow the quiet influence of the carbonic acid of 

 the atmosphere to rob the lime of its energy. 



114. Another reason for adopting the use of the 

 harrow for covering in the lime, instead of using the 

 plough, is the well known tendency of lime to 

 sink in the soil. If it be mixed with the soil 

 near the surface, the ordinary tillage operations have 

 a tendency to keep it there ; whereas, if the lime were 

 ploughed in, it would thereby commence its work at 

 a low level, and under many disadvantages. 



115. Another point demands consideration in con- 

 nection with the use of lime, viz., whether the use of 

 lime renders a supply of some other manure 

 necessary. Many of the old maxims held by 

 farmers of experience, are found to have a foundation 

 of truth ; but none more so than that which says 



" The use of lime without manure, 

 Will make the farm, and farmer poor." 



There is much truth in this saying, and it will be well 

 to see the reason for it. One important action of 

 lime is bringing into a useful condition any organic 

 matter which is in the soil. It therefore uses up a 

 certain portion of the organic matter, and by its con- 

 tinued use, the organic matter of the soil would be 

 practically exhausted, unless fresh supplies of organic 

 matter were from time to time added to the soil. 

 Under a good system of husbandry, the increased 



