SMALL HOLDINGS 125 



which flourish in this medium. Lime, how- 

 ever, should not be used upon vmdrained 

 wet land. 



It is a curious geological fact that land, 

 especially that which is of heavy character 

 like the clays, though frequently found 

 overlying chalk, is constantly in want of 

 lime. We have noticed that the remains of 

 limekilns may sometimes be found on land 

 of this kind, clearly showing that in the 

 distant past farmers were in the habit of 

 sinking shafts into the chalk and making 

 lime for themselves. The practice of chalking 

 is now quite uncommon, although a heavy 

 dressing may last for some years, but owing 

 to the difficulty of obtaining chalk sufficiently 

 fine it is now practically abandoned in favour 

 of lime. The best lime for agricultural 

 use is obtained from chalk which yields ninety 

 per cent., and mountain limestone which is 

 almost equal, but lime made from magnesian 

 limestone, which is common in Yorkshire 

 and neighbouring counties, is much less valued 

 by farmers, owing to the large quantity of 

 magnesia which it contains. 



The value of lime depends not only upon 

 the material from which it is produced, but 

 the degree of fineness to which it is brought. 



