384 [Assembly 



Soils have been known in Scotland, which for a long term of 

 years, could only be made to yield poor crops of oats or rye, not- 

 withstanding the richest dung was spread on them; still no other 

 grains came to maturity; yet, after having been judiciously limed, 

 and properly cultivated, all species of cereals ripened perfectly upon 

 them. The same effect was noticed in England, especially in the 

 counties of Derbyshire, Somersetshire, and Herefordshire. After ap- 

 plying lime upon arable land, I think it should be plowed at least 

 four times, and harrowed as often, in order that the lime may be in- 

 timately mixed with the soil; its effect will then be the same as 

 yeast to bread, causing immediate fermentation, and consequently 

 rapid increase of vegetable growth. Another good effect obtained 

 by several plowings is, that the ground is immensely benefitted by 

 being exposed to atmospheric influences, absorbing every time it is 

 turned, large quantities of valuable gases, which in its solid unplow- 

 ed form, enter it slowly, besides becoming sufficiently pulverized to 

 enable the roots to extend themselves readily for food, which they 

 always take up at the extremities of their spongioles. In the use of 

 lime I am governed by the following rules. 



1st. Never to use any stone lime containing magnesia. 



2d. Never to use caustic lime upon dry, sandy upland. 



3d. Never to use lime of any description upon undrained land. 



4th. When applied after seeding, always to put it on in summer, 

 when the w^eather is dry, in a palpable powder, and plow it under 

 as often and as shallow as possible, mixing it thoroughly with the 

 surface soil. 



5th. When caustic, plow it under at once, in order that it may 

 slake in the soil, instead of on the surface, by w^hich many of its 

 valuable properties are lost in the atmosphere. 



6th. To place large quantities of caustic lime upon lands over- 

 grown with noxious weeds, coarse useless herbage, wild grass, and 

 obnoxious bogs: all of which it immediately decomposes, and con- 

 verts into valuable humus, readily soluble in water. 



I trust gentlemen, that although I have said much in favor of 

 lime, you will not use it upon your lands without first discovering 

 whether they require lime or not, as lands have been, and may again 

 be materially injured, and I may say, almost destroyed by an injudi- 

 cious use of caustic lime. Every application reduces the organic 



