AND AGRICULTURE. 75 



When lime has thus repassed into the state of 

 the carbonate, it is more advantageously applied 

 to the land than before it was burned, because 

 in the form of the almost impalpable powder into 

 which it falls by being air-slaked it can be more 

 intimately mixed with the soil. 



The quick or unslaked lime acts most prompt- 

 ly upon the land, but the quick and the slaked 

 or mild lime both act in the same manner ; 

 they supply the lime which all plants require as 

 a portion of their inorganic food, and, by com- 

 bining with the acids in the soil, they overcome 

 its sourness and coldness, and convert the vege- 

 table matter into suitable organic food for the 

 plants. 



Lime should always be applied on the surface 

 of lands, or, at most, be 'only just harrowed 

 under the surface. 



Quick-lime should be applied to peaty lands, 

 to heavy clay soils, sour arable lands, and to 

 soils containing much vegetable matter. 



Questions. In which form is lime most advantageously 

 applied to soils ? In what state does lime act most promptly 

 on the land ? How does lime improve the soil ? What effect 

 has lime on the vegetable matter contained in the soil ? How 

 should lime be applied ? To what lands should quick-lime 

 be applied ? 



