C U2 ) 



clayey foil being brought to a more gentle temperament, 

 their natural tendency will be increafed to run together, 

 and to cruft upon the furface after rain, and every frefli 

 ploughing. 



In applying clay, marl, or any apparently un6lious 

 or foapy matter, to foils containing a fuperabundance of 

 fand or gravel, the fame caution is by no means neceflary, 

 as under the moft convenient and favourable opportunities 

 of procuring thofe materials, tiiere would be but little 

 danger of fuch a quantity being carried upon the land, as 

 would contribute, even in the fmalleft degree, towards pro- 

 ducing a fimilar effed. 



In every foil, be its nature what it may, occafional dref- 

 fmgs of lime are indifpenfibly neceffary to aft upon the 

 undiflblved animal and vegetable bodies, thereby producing 

 fermentation and vapour, or giving to them that degree of 

 folubllity, without which (as was obferved in the report of 

 Cambridgefliire) it is impoflible they can afford any direct 

 nourifhment to plants. The well-known property in cauflic 

 lime, which fo rapidly dilTolves the texture and organization 

 of all bodies, whether animal or vegetable, fhould be an 

 objedi of the moft ferlous ftudy and confideration, to the 

 improving farmer, who ought to be well advifed of the fad, 

 and to have it afcertalned with the utmoft certainty, whether 

 there is, or not, from the peculiar circumflances of his 

 foil, a dire6l and pofitlve demand for fuch a drefling. If on 

 examination it (hould be found to contain a confiderable 

 portion of animal or vegetable matter (and which a very 

 fimple chemical analyfis would readily determine) there 

 can be no queftion but lime would be of fervicc, and which 

 upon all, and every occafion, fliould be applied by itfelf, 

 unmixed with any other matter, immediately llightly covered, 

 and in its freflieft, hotteft, and moft cauftic Hate. 



In 



