On Liming Land. 277 



tage, by knowing its texture, and applying the manure 

 the most suitable to it. Three hundred bushels 

 (Winchester ) of lime, have been, at one time, spread 

 on an acre, in England ! Half of that quantity, laid on at 

 once here, would ruin any acre of land within my know- 

 ledge. I mean a worn acre taken up for amelioration and 

 recovery. Land reduced to sterility, by bad farming 

 and over- cropping, is like the stomach of an animal in a 

 state of debility. It must be recovered by gentle means 

 applied repeatedly, and at proper intervals. Too much 

 food is as destructive to the animal, as over-liming is to 

 the impoverished land ; whatever may have been the 

 original stamina of the one, or qualities of the other. 

 It is essential to know what quantity per acre, is 

 advantageous and proper here ; and the most bene- 

 ficial modes of using it. When I began, in the early 

 part of my life, to lay on lime, I was advised that 

 the lime would spend itself as much if no culture 

 were carried on, as it would by the severest cropping. 

 I soon found that limed lands required as much care 

 and good management, as others. The lime may sink, 

 or part with its qualities ; but severe cropping and bad 

 systems, injure limed, as much as other soils ; and, I 

 think, leave them in a state more difficult to recover. 

 I have myself experienced this, when I overlimed or 

 overfarmed, from want of proper information. I there- 

 fore suspect, that the lands said, in many places, to be 

 lime-sick^ must have been badly managed, and over- 

 worked. And yet in some parts of our country wherein 

 they have discontinued the use of lime, after having 

 long applied it (perhaps in too great quantities) there 

 are good farmers. I believe land requires a change, 



