102 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



the fact wliich has just been recorded regarding the similarity 

 of its effects, — whether mild or quick — yet differs materially 

 in its strength, inquiry should always be made on that point 

 previous to its application. The following general rules may 

 be taken as a summary of what has been already stated. 



1st. Before the application of lime, the land should be 

 thoroughly drained and laid dry. 2dly. It may be carried 

 on whenever the teams are the most at leisure; but summer 

 is the best season, and it never should be laid upon the land 

 unless in dry weather. 3dly. It should be laid on-while in 

 a powdery state — the drier the better — and kept as near the 

 surface as possible, as then best adapted to mix intimately 

 with the soil. 4thly. It may be applied either quick or effete; 

 but if in the former state, it will have more effect in the 

 cleansing of the land, and a less quantity will serve the 

 immediate purpose. It should, however, be carted upon the 

 land as soon as possible, and spread directly before the 

 plough, letting that follow so quickly, as that the body of 

 the lime shall be slaked in the soil; and it must be cau- 

 tiously applied to light soils. 5thly. As it has a tendency 

 to sink into the ground, and it is important to preserve it 

 near the surface, it should be ploughed with a shallow 

 furrow. 6thly, When found, after a few years, in lumps, 

 and much below the surface of the land, it should be 

 ploughed up and repeatly harrowed, so as to insure its. inter- 

 mixture. Tthly. Clays and strong loams require a full dose; 

 but for sands and other light soils, chalk, or a much less quan- 

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

 the lime and of the land. 8thly, 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. («) 



Lime-kilns. — Lime may be burnt without building a kiln, 

 as follows: The site on which this substitute for a regular 

 kiln is to be formed, should be circular — say five or six yards 

 in diameter: the soil should be dug up from off the subsoil; 

 and then the operation of burning is to be performed in the fol- 



(n) [The ordinary trap rocK, wliich abounds in parts of this country, if re- 

 duced to powder, is a valuable manure, used as a top-dressing for crass. It 

 shovild be applied in the proportion of one ton per acre, with about ten tons 

 of (lunfi. If applied in the state of very fine powder, it is supposed that live 

 cwt. per acre would be sufficient. Of this last statement we give no opinion. 

 The experiment is worthy of trial ] 



