246 



LIM 



LOA 



marble, which frequently contains 

 scarcely any other substance but 

 calcareous matter. Several sorts 

 of limestone, however, have mix- 

 tures of clay and sand, in various 

 proportions, by which the etficacj 

 of the manure, in proportion to 

 the quantity of the substances is 

 considerably diminished. It is ne- 

 cessary, therefore, to analyze lime- 

 stone, to ascertain the proportion 

 of pure lime, before it is advisable 

 to use so expensive an article in 

 great quantities, more especially if 

 it must be conveyed from a dis- 

 tance. Bituminous limestone 

 makes good manure. But the 

 magnesian is the species which re- 

 quires the greatest attention. 

 Limestone contains from 20*3 to 

 23'5 of magnesia, in which case it 

 would be injurious to weak soils, 

 to apply more than 25 to 30 bush- 

 els per statute acre, though in rich 

 soils, double that quantity may be 

 used, and still more with peat, on 

 which soil it would have a most 

 powerful effect in producing ferti- 

 lity." — Code of Jis^ricidture. 



Sir John Sinclair recommends 

 to slack lime, in order to prepare 

 it for manure with sea-water or 

 tiirine. The time "for applying 

 lime is when the land is under 

 summer fallow, in the months of 

 June or July, that it may be com- 

 pletely mixed with the soil before 

 the crop is sown." " For a tur- 

 nip crop it should be laid on earl) 

 in the spring, before the turnips 

 are drilled, in order that the lime 

 may be thoroughly incorporated 

 with the soil, by the ploughings 

 and harrowings it will receive. 

 For potatoes lime is not to be re- 



commended, as it is apt to burn 

 and blister their skins. 'J'he quan- 

 tity of 240 to 300 bushels of uu- 

 slacked lime, may be applied on 

 strong lands with advantage. Even 

 600 bushels have been laid on at 

 once on strong cla}s with great 

 success. On light soils a much 

 smaller quantity will answer, say 

 l>om 1 50 to 200 bushels ; but these 

 small doses ought to be frequently 

 repeated. When applied on the sur- 

 face of bogs or moors, the quantity 

 used is considerable." Upon land 

 ill a proper state forcalcarious ap- 

 plication, lime is much superior to 

 dung. Its effects continue for a 

 longer period, while the crops 

 produced are of superior quality, 

 and less susceptible of injury from 

 excesses of drought and moisture. 

 The ground, likewise, if it be of a 

 strong nature is more easily 

 wrought, and in some instances 

 the saving of labour alone would be 

 an inducement to a farmer to lime 

 his l;ind. Lime having a tendency 

 to sink in the soil, cannot be kept 

 loo near the surfiice. The drier 

 and finer lime is powdered when 

 applied to the soil, the better. 



LOAM, one of the principal 

 kinds of earth. Some suppose it 

 to be not one of the natural soils ; 

 but graduall)^ made since the crea- 

 tion, by the putrefied vegetables 

 which have fallen upon the earth. 

 This does not appear probable; 

 for, if so, why do we meet with 

 any other kind of soil ? This soil 

 consists of very tine particles, with- 

 out grit, almost as fine as those of 

 clay, but do not cohere like them. 

 If it lie long under water, it is apt 

 to have the appearance of clay. 



