64 AMERICAN MANURES. 



access of oxygen, light and heat. As the hy- 

 drate of lime is soluble in rain water, if placed 

 near the surface, it will gradually permeate all 

 parts of the soil, and perform all its useful func- 

 tions beneath the surface, in the fixing and neu- 

 tralizing of organic acids. 



There are various opinions among farmers, as 

 to whether it is more profitable to apply lime in 

 large quantities at rare intervals, or in small 

 amount yearly. There is an old saying that, 

 "Lime enriches the fathers, but impoverishes 

 the sons." This may in some cases be true. 

 Lime is a great stimulant to the soil, as already 

 shown, and if the amount added is too great for 

 the amount of organic matter present, or the 

 actual wants of the crops grown, there will be a 

 waste of those valuable gases liberated from the 

 decaying organic matter, and the store of this 

 organic matter contained in the soil will be pre- 

 maturely exhausted. The amount of lime added 

 to an acre should not be less than forty or fifty 

 bushels, and in cases where the physical con- 

 dition of the soil requires changing, as in heavy 

 clay soils, or those that contain a large amount 

 of organic matter, from one hundred and fifty 

 to two hundred bushels may be applied with 

 advantage. The judgment of the farmer, 

 aided by experience, is his best guide in this 

 matter. 



