MANURES AND FERTILISERS. 29 



spects, it cannot be brought to a high state of fer- 

 tility without the presence of an adequate supply of 

 lime. 



Lime should be applied in winter or early spring, 

 on the surface of the ground after digging has been 

 completed, and immediately raked into the surface 

 soil. It should never be dug in, but should be kept 

 in the surface soil as long as possible. Burnt lime, 

 in a fresh caustic condition, may be obtained either 

 in the form of ground lime-shell, which should be at 

 once applied broadcast, or as shell-lime, which re- 

 quires to be placed in small heaps on the land and 

 covered with soil until it falls away to a fine powder, 

 when it should be spread evenly over the ground. 

 In either case lime may be applied to most soils 

 every third year at the rate of 1 to 1J stones to 30 

 square yards, or 1 to 2 cwts. to 300 square yards. 



Ground Limestone. Unburnt ground limestone, 

 where more readily available and cheaper, may be 

 applied at half as much again as the above rate. 



Chalk. Chalk or carbonate of lime may be ap- 

 plied at double the above quantities. 



Gas Lime. Apply at the same rate as ground 

 limestone, in autumn or early winter, and leave 

 exposed on the surface for several weeks. 



Waste Carbide of Calcium. When this is avail- 

 able it may be used at the same rate as chalk. This 

 substance is better to be turned several times and 

 dried under cover" before being applied, so that it 

 may be more evenly distributed and raked into the 

 surface soil. 



Nitrogenous Fertilisers. Nitrogen can be ap- 

 plied directly in the form either of sulphate of am- 



