44 ON THE USE OF LIME, MARL, AND SHELL-SAND. 



land becomes more and more marshy or peaty. This defect can 

 only be successfully remedied by thorough drainage, and by sub- 

 sequently applying lime or marl if necessary. Lime used before 

 the land is well drained -can only lead to disappointment, for 

 lime does not destroy readily an excess of organic matter if the 

 air is excluded, as is the case in imperfectly drained soils. 



On the Application of Lime to Light Soils deficient in Lime. 



Light land, no less than heavy, is often much benefited by 

 marling or liming. In fact, all soils, whether light or heavy, are 

 rendered more fertile by the use of lime, if they are deficient in 

 this substance, so essential to the healthy growth of plants. 

 Sandy soils are often very poor in lime as well as in clay and in 

 organic matters ; they are open, readily admit air, and allow the 

 rain that falls upon them rapidly to carry into the subsoil, not only 

 soluble matters, but also finely divided powdery matters, such 

 as slaked lime. Every farmer knows that lime has a tendency 

 to sink in the ground, and that this tendency is greater in light 

 than in heavy soils. For this reason it is more advisable to lay 

 on lime sparingly on light land, and to renew the application of 

 lime at shorter intervals, than to put at once a heavy dressing 

 and to allow a longer period to intervene before the application 

 of lime is renewed. 



On sandy soils deficient in lime turnips and swedes are very 

 apt to become " fingered and toed." There is nothing which so 

 effectually cures this evil as a dressing of about 2 tons of lime 

 and as much leng dung as can be spared, applied in February 

 when the land is ploughed for the turnip crop, and the subse- 

 quent application of 1^ cwt. of superphosphate, which it is best to 

 drill with the liquid-manure drill, on sowing the turnip crop ; or 

 2 cwt. of superphosphate and 1 to 1 J guano, if farmyard-manure 

 cannot be spared in sufficient quantity to give the land a good 

 dressing. On the whole, 2 to 3 tons of lime per acre may be 

 regarded as a good dressing for light sandy soils, and this quantity, 

 generally speaking, should not be exceeded. 



Where marl, or chalk, or shell-sand can be readily procured, 

 it is advisable to use these fertilizers in preference to quick- 

 lime upon light sandy soils. Good marl, especially, produces 

 excellent effects upon sandy soils, where it supplies not only 

 lime but also clay, in which sandy soils are always deficient. 

 Morever, in the shape of marl, lime is not so readily carried into 

 the subsoil as when used as slaked lime. 



These general remarks on the use of lime upon light land are 

 further illustrated by the subjoined analyses of three soils found 

 in the West of England : 



