110 BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF LIME. 



Lime is applied to the land in the three states above 

 mentioned: quicklime, hydrate or slaked lime, and air- 

 slaked or mild lime, so called because it has lost its 

 caustic properties. It is better for the land in all of 

 these states than it was before burning, because the 

 burning has reduced it to an extremely fine powder, 

 more fitted to be dissolved in the soil, and to be taken up 

 by the plant. From the various tables already given, 

 it is obvious that lime is an absolutely essential ingre- 

 dient in the soil, being constantly needed by plants in 

 all of their parts; but beside this, it performs other 

 functions there of scarcely less importance, differing 

 according to the state in which it is applied. 



a. If the soil be stiff and cold, if it is newly drain- 

 ed, containing much of acid organic compounds, or 

 if there are tough, obstinate grasses to eradicate, such 

 as bent, etc., it is best to apply quicklime, or the caus- 

 tic hydrate. In either of these conditions it has a 

 most beneficial and energetic action; lightening and 

 mellowing stiff clays, neutralizing and decomposing 

 injurious acid substances, and extirpating many hurt- 

 ful grasses and weeds. 



h. If caustic lime is applied largely to light soils, 

 it may do harm by too rapidly decomposing the or- 

 ganic matter, usually scarce in soils of this descrip- 

 tion. In all such cases, and generally when it is not 

 wished to produce such effects as the above, mild or 

 air-slaked lime is best. 



The action of all varieties is invariably more mark- 

 ed and permanent upon drained or thoroughly dry 

 land, than upon that which is wet and swampy. All 

 of these various states of lime act not only upon the 

 organic matter in the soil, but upon the inorganic also, 

 decomposing certain insoluble compounds, and bring- 

 ing them into a state favorable to the sustenance of 

 plants. Thus we see that this manure performs many 

 most important functions. 



