338 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 6 



but almost wholly incumbeiil upon a close bottom. 

 We ploughed this field .'rorii old grass, and 

 sowed it with oats. It was punimer-fiillowed in 

 the second year, and dres.-;cd with lime, which 

 was mostly applied hot from llie kiln ; being dtawn 

 from the cart in regular sized heaps ol' five pecks 

 each, or thereby, and spread the moment it was 

 BJaked by rain, or atmospherical moisture. About 

 two-thirds of the field received 50 barley bolls, or 

 300 bushels per acre ; the remainder Irom 60 to 70 

 bolls per acre ; and the operation appeared to be in 

 direct proportion (o the quantity applied ; nor was 

 there any distinction discernible, betwixt what was 

 applied hot, and what was completely c^c<e; some 

 of it, indeed, the season being remarkably wet, 

 was nearly in a mortar stale : the whole answered 

 well, and operated immediately. 



It was noticed, in this field, that a few ridges, 

 on which the lime was spread in a windy day, 

 carried cropa rather inferior to those of the con- 

 tiguous ones: we apprehend that the most valua- 

 ble particles of the lime had been carried olf ; and 

 would recommend, that spreading should be dis- 

 continued, when a high wind arises. 



Much difterence of opinion having prevailed, 

 relative to the quality of the several limestone 

 quarries in the neighborhood, a trial was made 

 of Ume from each of them, upon six adjoining 

 ridges of the above field. Though a difference to 

 the eye was visible in almost every one of these 

 samples, yet the effect upon the ground was, li-om 

 all of them, precisely similar; nor could the most 

 accurate judge say which was the greatest. 'J'he 

 quantity applied in each case was the same ; and 

 the oper-'tions of laying on the lime, spreading 

 it, and ploughing the ground, were all carried on 

 in an unitbrm manner. 



Field, No. 13. — Consisted of loam of different 

 varieties, upon a bottom inclined to wetness, and 

 the ridges lying in a broad and serpentine state. 



We ploughed for oats, and then took drilled 

 beane, which were succeeded by wheat. The 

 first and last crops suffered much from the grub. 

 We (allowed the field in the .'burth year, cleav- 

 ing in different breadths, and cross ploughing the 

 ridges, alternately, till the surface was completely 

 levelled; then formed the ground into eighteen li?et 

 ridges, applied twelve double can loads of dung, 

 about one ton each, and fifty barley bolls of lime, 

 to the Scots acre. The lime was laid on hot from 

 the kiln, and spread as fast as it was pulverized. 

 This quantity was found rather too much for the 

 softest part of the field, which, alter all, is a cir- 

 cumstance that rarely happens ; but on the re- 

 mainder the iermentation was not greater than 

 necessary; and from this part of the field, the 

 best crops have been procured, though the ridges 

 were both higher and broader, and required more 

 levellings than the other. 



We may now draw a few plain and practical 

 inferences from what is stated. 



Ist, That lime operates eriually well, whether 

 applied in a hot or effete stale, provided the con- 

 dition of the ground upon vvhicii it is used, be such 

 as to render a calcareous application beneficial. 



2dly, That, in respect of operation, it is imma- 

 terial whether the lime be used upon grass land 

 or eummer-lallow, and that objects of conve- 

 niency ought chiefly to weigh with the farmer in 

 ascertaining the roost proper time lor applying 

 this article. Upon old grass land, it is perhaps 



best to plough first, and to summer-fallow in the 

 second year, when lime can he ap))lied. On new 

 and clean grass land, hesitation is superfluous; it 

 may be limed at the outset, that is, before the 

 plough is admitted. 



3dly, That to lime moorish soils is a hazardous 

 business, unless dung is likewise bestowed ; but to 

 repeat the application upon such soils, especially 

 if they have been severely cropped, is almost a 

 certain loss, and that a compost of lime and rich 

 earth is, in such cases, the only substitute. 



4lh!y, That strong loams and clays require a 

 full dose to bring them into action ; such soils being 

 capable of absorbing a great quantity of calca- 

 reous matter. Lighter soils, however, require less 

 lime to stimulate them, and may be injured by ad- 

 ministering a quantity that would prove moderate- 

 ly beneficial to those of a heavy nature. 



Slfily, That upon fresh land, or land in a proper 

 state for calcareous application, lime is much su- 

 perior to dung. Its effects continue for a longer 

 period ; while the ciops produced are of a supe- 

 rior kind, and less susceptible of injury from the 

 excesses of drought and moisture. Finally, the 

 ground, particularly what is of a strong nature, is 

 much easier wrought ; and, in many instances, 

 the saving of labor would almost tempt a judi- 

 cious farmer to lime his land, were no greater 

 benefit derived from the application, than the op- 

 portunity thereby gained of' working it in a perlect 

 manner. 



It may be added, that though strong soils re- 

 quire to be animated with a good dose of lime, 

 those of a light texture will do equally well witfi 

 little more than half the quantity requisite on the 

 others, especially if they are fresh, or have not 

 already received an application of calcareous mat- 

 ter. In every case it is the farmer only who 

 can judge of the quantity to be given ; but, as a 

 general principle, it is safer to exceed the [troper 

 quantity than to be below it. In the latter case 

 the application may prove useless, and the whole 

 expense be lost; whereas it rarely happens that 

 injury is sustained from an excess, especially if 

 more or less dung is soon after administered. 



PUICE OF DURIIABI CATTLE. 



From tlie Genosce Farmer. 



Many consider it a eufljcient proof of false es- 

 timate of the value of Durham cattle, that the 

 price is ten limes greater than the animals would 

 bring as beef in market, or than their proceeds 

 amount to in the dairy. 



■ In deciding this point, it must be remembered 

 that their value does not depend on their qualities 

 lor immediate use, but on their means of increas- 

 ing the breed. Two things should therelbre be 

 considered in determining their price. 1. Their 

 products for beef and the dairy; 2. The time 

 required for them to increase so as to afford a gen- 

 eral supply for the country. 



1. To determine their value for immediate use, 

 it is requisite that we know how much the proceeds 

 exceed the cost and keeping. One cow may pro- 

 duce but one-half more milk than another, and 

 yet be ten times more profitable. IfJ lor instance, 

 the cost of keeping be $15 a year in both in- 

 stances; and the produce of one be sixteen, and of 

 the otiier, nine dollars. This shows the great ini- 



