BY MINERAL MANURES. 81 



lime will serve, each in proportion to the strength of the 

 lime and the land. 



''8. If the land be not supplied with the same quantity 

 of putrescent manure that is usually laid upon other soils, 

 the crops will suffer ; and if it be not then laid down to 

 grass for a long series of years, it will be worn out and 

 exhausted." 



We add the following from Professor Low : — 



" Lime may be laid on the surface of land when it is 

 in grass, and remain there till the land is ploughed up for 

 tillage, even though this should be several years afterwards. 

 The hme, in this case, quickly sinks into the soil, and, 

 acting upon it, prepares it for crops when it is again 

 tilled." 



" It may be spread upon the surface even when plants 

 are growing. This is, however, rarely to be imitated." 



Lime is most extensively used in East Pennsylvania, 

 of any part of the United States. The writer of this 

 essay addressed a letter to Dr. Darlington, of Chester 

 county, propounding certain queries as to the mode of 

 applying lime, quantity appHed, &c. in his neighborhood ; 

 to winch the Doctor kindly returned the subjoined answer, 

 which will probably afford the best guide to the Ameri- 

 can farmer, in the application of this mineral, that can be 

 found. 



Dear Sir, — I proceed, with great pleasure, to furnish 

 you with such facts and remarks as my opportunities for 

 observation have enabled me to offer. With a view to 

 render the answers more explicit and satisfactory, I will 

 annex them, seriatim, to your several inquiries. 



Query I. " Upon ichat lands does lime operate most 

 beneficially, — 1st. In regard to geological formation^ — 

 as primitive, transition, secondary, and alluvial 9 2d. 

 In reference to the soil, — as sand, clay, lime, and vege^ 

 table matter 9 Sd. As indicated by natural growth of 

 timber and plants V 



Answer. My residence has always been in a primitive 

 region, and my observations very much limited to agri- 

 cultural processes in soils upon that formation. The pre- 



