COMPARATIVE ECONOMY OF THE TWO METHODS. 385 



In Flanders a similar difference in the practice prevails in different 

 districts. In Some the land is limed only once in 12 years, in others 

 every third, fourth, or sixth year, according to the length of the rotation. 

 In the former case from 40 to 50 bushels are applied per acre, in the lat- 

 ter from 10 to 12 bushels every third year. In both modes of proceduo 

 the quantity of lime applied by the year is nearly the same — between 

 3i and 4 bushels per acre. These quantities are very much less than 

 those employed in our island, but the soils are also greatly lighter, and 

 the climate, as well as the general treatment of the land, very different. 



We may consider it, therefore, as a principle recognized or involved 

 in the agricultural practice both of our own and of foreign countries, 

 that nearly the same annual addition of lime ought to be made to the 

 land, whether it be applied at long intervals or at the recurrence of each 

 rotation. There is, therefore, on the whole, no saving in the cost of lime, 

 whichever method you adopt. A slight consideration of the subject, 

 however, may satisfy us that there is a real difference in the compara- 

 tive economy or profit of the two methods. 



Let us suppose two acres of the same clay land to be limed respec- 

 tively with 200 bushels each, and that the one is cropped for twenty 

 years afterwards without further liming, while the other at the end of 

 every five years is dressed with an additional dose of 40 to 50 bushels. 

 In both cases the land would have attained the most productive con- 

 dition in five or six years. Let us suppose that in this condition it pro- 

 duced annually a crop of (or equivalent in nutritive value to) 30 bushels 

 of wheat, and that on neither acre did a sensible diminution appear be- 

 fore the end often years. Then during the second ten the crops would 

 gradually lessen in the one acre, while, in consequence of the re- 

 addition of the lime as it disappears, the amount of produce would re- 

 main sensibly the same in the other acre. Suppose the produce of 

 the former gradually to diminish from 30 to 20 bushels during these ten 

 years, — or that while the one has continued to yield 30 bushels during 

 the whole perio'd, the other has, on an average, yielded only 25 bushels 

 during the latter ten years. If now the second large dose of 200 bushels 

 be added to thi.s latter acre, the cost of liming both will have become 

 sensibly the same, but the amount of produce or of profit from the two 

 acres during the second ten years will stand thus — 



10 crops, of 30 bushels each, amount to 300 bushels. 

 10 crops, of 25 bushels each, amount to 250 bushels. 



Difference in favour of frequent liming, 50 bushels per acre, 

 or nearly two whole crops every lease of twenty years. 



Thus it appears 



1". That, according to the practice of different countries, the quantity 

 of lime which ought to be added, and consequently the cost of adding it, 

 is very nearly the same, whether it be applied in larger doses at longer 

 intervals, or in smaller doses more frequently repeated. 



2^. That, after the first heavy liming, the frequent application of small 

 doses is the more natural method — a-nd 



3°. That it is also the most economical or profitable method. 



It is possible that other considerations, such as the tenure by which 

 your land is held, may appear sufl&cient to induce you to depart from 



