ON THE USE OF LIME, MARL, AND SHELL-SAND. 45 



Composition of Soils from Yatton (No. I.) ; from Combe, near Sherborne 

 (No. II.) ; and Soil from Montacute (No. III.). 



a. MECHANICAL ANALYSIS. 



No. I. No. II. No. III. 



Moisture 2'47 ; . 3'65 



Organic matter and water of combination 4' 10 * 5'78 



Lime T92 1-48 



Sand 75-45 53'30 



Clay 16-06 '"'' 35'79 



100-00 itifli 100-00 

 &. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. 



Moisture 2*47) 5 . 5Q J3-G5 



Organic matter and water of combination 4'lOf \5'78 



Oxides of iron and alumina 5'58 2'83 8'01 



Carbonate of lime T92 '40 1'48 



Magnesia and alkalies .'73 '77 1*28 



Insoluble silicious matters 85'20 90*50 79'80 



100-00 100-00 100-00 



The soil from Yatton is a sandy dead-looking soil, showing 

 here and there white particles of lime or chalk. It is tolerably 

 free from stones ; the stones are as hard as flint, and some are 

 reddish-coloured like jasper. This soil probably has been limed 

 at one time or the other, and, although it may not want to be 

 limed immediately, it may be safely predicted that it is one of 

 those light soils that require a periodical dressing of lime. 



In the soil from Combe, near Sherborne, hardly any lime 

 occurs, and no less than about 90 per cent, of silicious sand. It is 

 self-evident that marl or lime will much improve such a soil ; but 

 since this soil is also deficient in other fertilizing constituents, 

 farmyard-manure, or a mixture of guano, superphosphate, and 

 salt, should be used as well as lime or marl if the soil is to yield 

 good crops. Lime used by itself upon such soils, which are but 

 little better than blown sand, answers no useful purpose. 



A much better soil than that of Yatton or Combe is the 

 soil from Montacute. This is a lightish loamy soil, which 

 ought to grow good turnips, as it is readily pulverised. It 

 exhibits white particles of lime, which has in all probability 

 been applied to it in the shape of slaked lime, chalk, or marl. 

 Periodical liming appears to be requisite to keep this soil in a 

 productive condition, since naturally the land is poor in lime. 



There is but one other observation which I would make before 

 giving a few instances of soils upon which lime is actually used, 

 but upon which its use cannot be recommended. It is this : 

 Never depend upon the use of lime alone on light land ; the first 

 application or two of lime may produce a marvellous change ; 

 but if no other manures are employed at the same time, the land 



