370 Transactions of the American Institute. 



of such bulky articles as lime and dung, aud take them at very 

 cheap rates. We are aware of lime-shells being carried twenty- 

 four miles at about tenpence a ton, which charge is a very marvel 

 of cheapness, and offers great encouragement to the farmers in the 

 districts traversed to use it, which they do, and with excellent 

 results, as must always be the case (save with certain exceptions) 

 when applied to land, which, from its distance from limestone, has 

 never had an opportunity of being overdone, or even of having had 

 a moderate dressing. 



In applying lime, there is often considerable difficulty in manag- 

 ing successfully, should the weather break and continue obstinately 

 broken for a lengthened period, as after becoming soaked the land 

 cannot be carted on without injury, and the lime itself is extremely 

 aj3t to rim into mortar, and so be rendered useless. That the land 

 may have the full benefit of the application, plenty of assistance 

 ought to be kept at it until completed, the lime being worked in as 

 soon as spread, as it soon loses its causticity when exposed to the 

 atmospheric influence. On fiirms, the soil of which is so heavy as 

 to preclude altogether, or in a great measure, the growth of turnips 

 and other green crops, and so necessitate a continuance in the old 

 system of periodical fallows, that period of the rotation at which 

 the bare fallow occm's is obviously the best for the application of 

 lime; and during the summer or autumn, previous to the wheat 

 seeding time, the lime may be applied. If applied fresh from the 

 kiln, sufficient time must be allowed to permit of its being cooled 

 before the land is seeded, otherwise a portion of the seed may be 

 lost by coming in contact with the hot lime. On light laud, 

 worked on the four, five or six course of rotation, the months of 

 September and October, or just immediately after the removal of 

 the corn to the stock-yard, is a very convenient season to lay on 

 lime. On those soils on which the turnip crop is improved by a 

 dressing of lime, it should be put on immediately after the fields 

 ai-e cleared of the preceding corn crop. No period of the year 

 affords a better opportunity for liming than this, as there is, first, 

 a long day, admitting of a full day's work being done — a matter 

 of the utmost importance when a large stafi" of men and horses is 

 employed; and second, the lime can be admirably mixed with the 

 soil by the usual course of autumn culture, which the fields would 

 have got independently of the lime being put on at that time. The 

 grubber is probably the most perfect implement at the command 

 of the farmer for thoroughly incorporating lime with the soil; aud 



