ON MANURES. HI 



may, therefore, be converted into quicklime, by burning-, or it 

 may be used in its natural state, but then it is not so minutely 

 divisible, nor so soluble in water, and is, of course, more tardy 

 in its operation ; its effects, however, continue longer, and it is 

 apparent that, as it contains more calcareous matter than the 

 common qualities of lime, it may be used in smaller quantities. 

 When spread upon grass, or clover, it is found to promote the 

 growth of tbe herbage, for it partakes of the nature of pounded 

 limestone, and possessing none of the caustic properties of 

 quicklime, it may be used without hazard as a top-dressing. 

 It also occasions heavy tillage crops; and if the land be not 

 over-cropped before it is returned to pasture, the turf is found 

 to be closer, more plentiful, and sweeter than before ; but on 

 cold damp soils, which have been heavily worked, the crops 

 of grain have proved later, and the corn lighter, than on land 

 which has been limed. 



Application of marl. — Many farmers either lay marl upon 

 land sown with tares, thus making a bastard fallow ; or they 

 apply it to grass land, or to a clover ley, to be broken up in 

 the following year. The latter is certainly the preferable, as 

 well as the most general practice, for it not alone produces an 

 abundance of good pasture, but it affords time for the season to 

 operate in bringing the marl into a fit state for future tillage 

 crops, which cannot be done in the common course of cropping, 

 because it becomes buried by the plough before it is properly 

 mixed with the soil, especially if turned in deep the first earth. 

 It should, therefore, be allowed sufficient time to sink and eat 

 itself into the surface before it is ploughed up. This, how- 

 ever, is by some persons carried to an absurd length, as they 

 occasionally spread a coat of marl upon the green sward, and 

 leave it there unploughed for many years, in which case the 

 grass receives considerable detriment, for the marl then sinks 

 downwards in a body, without incorporating with the soil ; 

 though, when it has lain a long time in this state, the subse- 

 quent crops of corn have been found to be enormous. If laid 

 upon grass, it may be carried out during all periods of the 

 year in which the crop is not in a forward state of growth ; but 

 if applied to arable land intended for immediate cultivation, 

 the months of June and July, or soon afler the autumn seed- 

 time, are considered the best for its application. If laid on 

 a short tim.e previous to winter, its eftect is also generally 

 prompt, because, except it be of a very tenacious kind, the 

 action of the cold and rain commonly divide it in time to be 



