142 STALL-MANURE AND STRAW. 



that experience teaches that a farmer often enjoys 

 better results from manure mixed with lime than 

 from that which is unlimed, particularly in cases 

 where a rapid vegetation (for instance, in manuring 

 for winter crops, such as turnips, winter-rape, etc.) is 

 sought to be obtained. This apparent contradiction 

 will receive immediate solution. The cause of the 

 better results derived from the addition of the lime 

 is simply, that the ammonia set at freedom by the 

 lime, of which a considerable quantity invariably 

 remains behind, can be forthwith absorbed by 'the 

 young plants, and appropriated to their growth. 

 The lime, therefore, anticipates the labor of the 

 plants, and by facilitating the absorption of nour- 

 ishment occasions their more rapid vegetation. 

 Through this accelerated growth the farmer can 

 often bring forward a late sowing so considerably, as 

 to allow his plants to acquire sufficient strength, be- 

 fore the setting in of winter, to endure the rigor of 

 the climate and weather far better than they could 

 do were they less advanced. 



The farmer, however, ought not to resign himself 

 entirely to this beneficial operation of lime, but to 

 adopt a course of action by means of which the 

 same result is obtained without loss. This is effected 

 hy suffering the admixture of lime with the manure to 

 take place in the soil; for then that portion of the 

 valuable ammonia will be retained, and benefit his 

 plants, which is lost by volatilization where the mix- 

 ture is made upon the dung-heap, or upon^ instead of 

 t», the field. 



