160 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



ate lo the quantity of manure wliicli is applied to the land ; for, in the latter case, it is cus- 

 tomaiy to alternate every three or six years between tlie use of stable manure and that of 

 lune. There are, however, some countries where lime is applied regularly every third year 

 — that is to say, at every fallow it is applied three or lour times in succession before it is again 

 supplied with stable manure. But this coui'se of proceeding exhausts and impoverishes the 

 land to the greatest possible degree. 



The most various and contradictoiy opinions have been put forth with respect to the ad- 

 vantages or disadvantages attendant on the use of lime as a manure, and we can only find our 

 way out of this labyruith of conflicting statements by means of a theory based upon sohd 

 foundations ; with the assistance of such a theoiy, all that at first sight appears problematical, 

 with regard to the subject, will be speedily elucidated. Lime, especially when it has recent- 

 ly been calcined, or is, in other words, what we call quicklime, absorbs the carbonic acid 

 which is contained in the atmosphere which surrounds it, and subsequently communicating it 

 to the jilants, doubtless furnishes them with some nourishment ; but this nutrition is very 

 inconsiderable : the property to which it owes the chief power in promoting vegetation is the 

 faculty of decomposing the humus and inert vegetable or animal substances which it meets 

 with in the soil, and transforming them into nutintive juices adapted to the nature of plants. 

 Hence arise the wonderful effects which it produces when it encounters a great quantity of 

 these substances. Besides, when properly employed it contributes greatly toward the 

 destruction of weeds. Hence, we see as rich crops deiived from a first, and sometimes 

 from a second, application of lime, as would have been produced had the land been abun- 

 dantly manured with stable dung. Many persons who have not rightly comprehended the 

 cause of the effects produced by lime, prefer it to manure, and have believed in the possi- 

 bility of doing entirely without the latter ; but the total exhaustion of the soil which such a 

 course of proceeding must sooner or later produce, caused them to fly to the opposite exti'eme. 

 and to regard the use f)f lime as an application in the highest possible degree prejudicial 

 and dangerous. An enlightened and scientific agriculturist will soon perceive that the use of 

 lune can never supersede that of dung, but that it renders this kind of manure more energetic 

 in its action. Thus, he will profit by the increased fertility which lime bestows on the first 

 crop which succeeds the application of it, and will procure as much as possible of those sub- 

 stances which are adapted for the production of dung, in order to restore to the land, in the 

 shape of stable manure, that substance of which it has been deprived by the lime forcmg and 

 increasing the vegetation of the crops to which it was applied. He will likewise know when 

 lime wiir be beneficial and when uijmious ; and, if he acts with moderation, will be able 

 to employ lime with much advantage in cases where many persons would be afraid to 

 use it." 



The reason of my inquiry about the effects of plaster of Paris, was because I 

 had been told by the intelligent proprietor of the hotel at Newmarket, (who, or I 

 am much mistaken, has himself inhaled the anti-pulmonary odor of fresh-plowed 

 ground, and the sweet breath of cattle fresh from the clover-fields,) that an im- 

 pression existed with old farmers thereabout, that frequent crops of clover had a 

 tendency to produce too much stiffness in the soil — but I feel satisfied that they 

 mistake in this case, as in many others, the cause for the effect. The stiffness 

 they deprecate is more probably produced by their close and severe grazing, year 

 after year, without leaving their entire crops ungrazed occasionally, to be turned in. 

 And it may be mentioned that a much more certain injury resulting from the 

 use of plaster, and from its strong and immediate action favorable to the growth 

 of clover is, that it makes the indolent farmer become insensible and indifferent 

 about the increase of his ham-yard manure, a great and an honest resource of his 

 own providing— one that a diligent and courageous agriculturist will pride him- 

 self upon and always husband with the greatest care. See what Von Thaer says 

 of its importance in combination with lime. The use of that, too, it may be ap- 

 prehended, has the same effect of begetting a dangerous carelessness about the 

 accumulation of animal manures, without which, as it has been stated, in occa- 

 sional alternation with lime, the latter will be sure to leave the soil at last ex- 

 hausted of all the elements of fertility. 



Before closing these hasty commentaries on Mr. Strayer's letter, one remark 

 farther may be made upon it : you perceive. Sir, that he took and carefully read 

 (there is something in that) your old American Farmer— the file-leader of agri- 

 cultural papers in this country- and that since you gave it up he has for years 

 taken the " Albany Cultivator." Now, Sir, with all the senseless cant so easily 

 uttered against ' book-farming,' (as if a lawyer or a doctor should cease to be 

 irustvvrorthv for being well read in their professions,) this constant reader, as 

 well as others in that neighborhood, of all that is going on in their own pur- 

 suits, happen to be, bv common consent, the very best practical farmers in their 



{3.5'2; 





