the same in both cases, that is, the same both in 

 aluminous and siliceous soils, but the proportion 

 of lime to vary as 100 to 150, both in the first 

 and successive applications. We have every 

 reason to think, I'rom all our patient investiga- 

 tion, experiment, and experience that this v/ill 

 eventually be found a verj' economical and ef- 

 fectual if not the moat economical and etfoctual, 

 method of applying lime to soils. 



When easily and cheaply obtained, about fif- 

 teen bushels of wood or peat ashes, applied in 

 the same manner, form a good substitute for the 

 nitrate of soda or potash ; and bituminous peat 

 for this purpose is always to be preferred. 



8. We have already stated that we have uni- 

 versally found that, unless thoroughly under- 

 drained, it is in vain to expect any remunerative 

 return from the application of lime, and we may 

 add, any descri]jtion of manure, whether organic 

 or inorganic. Where superfluous moisture ex- 

 ists, the interstices of the soil are completely 

 choked up with the fluid, the beneficial action 

 of the atmospheric air excluded, a soiiruess con- 

 tracted prejudicial to healthy vegetation, and 

 the fructifying portions of the manure rendered 

 inactive or washed away beyond the reach of a 

 crop, while the temperature of the soil is also 

 materially reduced by the presence of superflu- 

 ous moisture. 



9. The effect of applying lime along with 

 other manures, that is, at the same season, and 

 to the same crops with other substances, de- 

 pends entirely on the period of the operation of 

 fallowing at which it is applied. 



If it be applied to the fallow before the dung, 

 and harrowed sufficiently into the soil, inter- 

 mixed and incorpoi-ated thoroughly with it, the 

 lime will combine with and immediately operate 

 in reducing all the root fibre and insoluble or- 

 ganic remains of the natural herbage or previous 

 crops as it may hapjien to meet with, and thus 

 convert into nutriment, for the succeeding crop, 

 what was before of no service whatever ; and if 

 any acid or noxious rejected matter slfould be 

 left by the plants of the previous rotation, as is 

 believed by many scientific persons to be the 

 ca.se, the acid and noxious principles are neu- 

 tralized by the lime, and the soil purified and 

 enriched at same time. If not laid on, however, 

 till after the dung is applied, of course it must 

 and does abstract carbonaceous matter and oxy- 

 gen from the manure, in the first place, com- 

 bining with the more soluble portions, and this 

 combination rendering them temporarily in 

 great part less soluble, and thus not so well cal- 

 culated to afford immediate nutriment to the 

 succeeding crop. This may not be of such im- 

 portance in wheat culture, which crop is best 

 treated as a biennial, and thus remains a long 

 time on the ground. But it does not appear to 

 be so well calculated for a turnip crop, requiring 

 as it does an immediate and concentrated sup- 

 ply of stimulating and soluble nourishment. 

 With farm-yard dung it does and must operate 

 in this way. 



W e have used street manure to turnips, which 

 suits this croj) better than mo.st others. Street 

 mamiro frequently contains a considerable por- 

 tion of carbonate of lime, and sometimes native 

 sulphate; but an application of caustic-lime, af- 

 ter adding this manure to the soil operates pre- 

 cisely as in the former case we have been de- 

 scribing, in fonning compounds partially insolu- 

 ble in water, and in withdrawing carbonaceous 

 matter and oxygen, and thus being ultimately 

 converted into a carbonate. 

 (216) 



Rape-cake we have used very little, although, 

 thrown into the soil along with the seed of tur- 

 nip, in moist seasons, it makes a capital dressing, 

 as we have often witnessed. It is well suited to 

 clay soils in some cases ; but it is scarcely adapt- 

 ed to a fallow, unless combined with more sub- 

 stantial and lasting manures. 



We have used bones extensively in different 

 soils, but always as limed land, and have never 

 paid particular attention to the eflects of apply- 

 ing both at the same season. W^e knovv-, how- 

 ever, from very careful analysis, that the follow- 

 ing is their composition : — 

 Cartilage — a compound |Carb. of Lime 11-3 



of Carbon, Oxygen,Hy- I'hos. of Lime 51.4 



dnigen, and Nilro- FluateofCalcium 2 



gen 33.3 Phos. of Magnesia 1.16 



Soda I.2I 



Of course the application of caustic-lime 

 ^vould operate powert'ully in reducing the bone, 

 by acting on the cartilaginous portions, and with- 

 drawing the carbon and oxygen ; but we have 

 always found the most efficient and economical 

 method of applying this manure to be over a 

 portion of spit dmig previously deposited in the 

 turnip drills, which is preferable even to mixing 

 the bones with the manure to cause icnnenta- 

 tion before applying the mass. The evolution of 

 gases and volatile alkali, with the increase of 

 temperature during the fermentation caused by 

 the subterposition in the drill of the spit dung, 

 affords the most forcing and stimulating nour- 

 ishment to the tender genu, and has the further 

 reccmmeudation of economy and efficiency. — 

 W^e have gro'wn a very excellent crop of tur- 

 nip on a vei-y diy light siliceous gravelly soil, 

 with eight bushels of bones, over ten single 

 hor.se-cart loads of farm-yard dung, an aci'e. 



"V^'ith regard to soot, we have witnessed its 

 admirable effects sown over gras^ lands, spring 

 com, tares, and young tui-nip, but have never 

 seen it applied at the same time with lime. It 

 is most eftectual in desti-oying the numerous in- 

 sects which prey on vegetables in their early 

 stages. However, we should think it injudi- 

 cious in the extreme to apply it with quicklime, 

 which would immediately and wastefuUy de- 

 compose its substance by disengaging a great 

 portion of the volatile alkali, although there 

 would not be the same objection to sulphate of 

 lime, which would rather operate in preventing 

 the too rapid disengagement and dissipation of 

 its volatile parts. 



We may conclude this head by remarking 

 that where the object is permanent pasture, the 

 application- of the manure and the lime at Ihe 

 same time has been found beneficial, the eflects 

 being more lasting ; but quick-lime or hydrate 

 should never be applied to rich fertile old loams 

 in cultivation, containing much soluble organic 

 matter, unless as a compound with vegetable 

 mould, or in some shape intimately combined 

 with organic substances. 



10. It seems .supei-fluous here to describe tlie 

 familiar operation of fallowing. All that one 

 need say is, that after this cleaning operation has 

 been carefully executed on the best principles, 

 tiie lime should be well harrowed in and thor- 

 oughly incorporated with the soil. From being 

 reduced to a hydrate it becomes so perfcclly di- 

 vider!, and its particles rendered so minute, that 

 the chemical action on any organic remains of 

 former crops it meets with in the soil is imme- 

 diate, and thus, rapidly becoming mild from this 

 action, it is, in a manner, prevented from com- 

 bining with the more soluble portions of the sub- 



