[ 27S ] 



On Liming Land. By Richard Peters. 

 Read August 14th, 1810. 



The relation to the society in which I am placed by 

 them, impels me to bring to their notice, many sub- 

 jects, which I should not otherwise conceive myself 

 bound to discuss. When no attention appears to be 

 paid by others, to an important point, I venture to 

 supply, however inadequately, the deficiency. This 

 must be my apology for so often troubling them with 

 my thoughts on topics, to which others, if so inclined, 

 could do more ample justice. We have not a solitary 

 communication upon the practice of liming lands; 

 though carried to very great extent in our state. In no 

 country is lime in more abundance ^ nor can it be 

 of better quality. Chemical and theoretical accounts 

 of it, may be found in many books. There are good 

 writers on its properties, as they apply to agriculture. 

 But we find in those writers, many positions and 

 remarks, both theoretical and practical, unsuitable to 

 the climate and circumstances of this country. It is 

 more a topic for curiosity than practical use, with com- 

 mon farmers, to enter into its composition chemically ; 

 though to those who turn to profitable account such 

 inquiries, they are indeed highly beneficial. I leave all 

 theories ; — and wish to call the attention of the society 

 to its practical uses. It would be very desirable to fall 

 on means to acquire every information from those who 

 can, from experience, give it ; and multitudes of our ^ 

 fellow citizens have the capacity to afford the fullest 



