AND RURAL ECONOMIST 195 



more than a score of years, successively, to make use of it 

 for agricultural purposes to the extent of more than one 

 hundred casks annually. 



' One of my first experiments arose from a desire to give a 

 top-diessing to a piece of land, which it was otherwise in- 

 convenient to do. The soil was a heavy black loam. Hav- 

 ing a quantity of black earth from a trench, (or top stratum,) 

 I procured a quantity of lime. A bottom of four cr five buck 

 loads of earth was first placed; then a couple of casks of 

 lime were spread thereon ; then earth and lime again, till 

 my materials were used, or the quantity needed was had, at 

 the rate of eight or ten casks to the acre ; thus a cask be- 

 ing supposed to produce about five bushels of slacked lime, 

 the cost of which, if the casks are swelled and the lime partly 

 slacked, is eight to ten cents a bushel. This is the most 

 moderate application in Europe, and the cost is about the 

 same. 



* This mixture, after lying twelve or fourteen days, was 

 shovelled over, and after some days being found fine and well 

 mixed, was spread from the cart on the ground. To my 

 surprise I found the effect produced to be equal to what is 

 usual from common compost manure! 



' In England, where lime is most used for agricultural 

 purposes, it is considered that in its crude state, or uncal- 

 cined ,state, it is most beneficial, if pounded or made fine. 

 This, where limestone abounds, it is well to know; but there 

 is little of it in this neighborhood. Encouraged by this 

 experiment, I continued to purchase and apply considera- 

 able quantities of damaged and air-slacked lime^ in my cul- 

 tivation, particularly for a low, flat piece of land. This be- 

 ing intersected with small ditches, furnished the earth. I 

 was not able otherwise to procure to mix with the lime. It 

 is not well, however, in such cases, to lower the surface by 

 taking off more than will keep the ditches open. When the 

 earth is tough wdth sward, &c., it may be made finer by being 

 carted out and put in heaps on the ground, and spread after- 

 wards. Indeed this is done to great advantage in the winter; 

 the poaching the land, or making a rough surface for the 

 scythe, being then well avoided. 



'As this land cannot advantageously be ploughed, I have, 

 in applying every third year a top-dressing, £fs my custom is, 



* Lime long exposed to the air, such as sweepings of stores, &c., is of 

 less value and more cheaply obtained. 



