PROPERTIES OF LIME. 63 



cal effects, which are no less valuable and strik- 

 ing. It gives lightness and friability to heavy 

 clay soils, thus facilitating the circulation of 

 moisture, air and heat, as well as enabling the 

 delicate roots to penetrate readily in all direc- 

 tions. It also gives sufficient compactness to 

 loose, sandy soils, and corrects the leaching and 

 washing out of the valuable fertilizing elements 

 they contain. 



The kind of spontaneous vegetation upon soils 

 is a good indicator as to whether lime is needed, 

 or may be used to advantage. In soils where 

 sorrel, or the chestnut, and pine tree grow spon- 

 taneously, application of lime is useful, and such 

 soils can^seldorn be cultivated profitably without 

 it. 



In relation to the application of lime, we 

 would say, that it should at all times be kept as 

 near the surface as possible, because its benefi- 

 cial effects are greater in the presence of atmos- 

 pheric air, and moisture. If placed too deep in 

 the soil, these effects would be much less. The 

 practice of spreading lime before the land is 

 plowed, is not a good one, and ought to be dis- 

 continued. A better method is to apply it after 

 the land is plowed, and previous to harrowing ; 

 this places it near the surface, and conforms to 

 the conditions necessary to its maximum useful 

 action on decaying vegetable matter, viz., free 



