| 
` crop he knew of had been increased three times in; 
34—1846.] 
-THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
produetiveness, almost entirely by the mere applica- 
tion of lime. The application in some districts had 
been found to produce a great deal of good. If they 
applied the lime in sufficient quantities it would do 
good; but if afterwards they continued to apply it, 
it would cease to do good. After the full effects had 
been produced, it would naturally produce no further 
good. But if 30 years ago it produced no good, it did 
not follow that if they begun to apply it now, it would 
do us no good either. In Scotland, he believed, in va- 
rious districts, the application of lime did no good. 
The lecturer here proceeded to explain, in a familiar 
Manner, what chemists call carbonate of lime, Lime 
Was generally found very pure; and the purer it was, 
the better was it for purposes in general. A certain 
kind of lime was very valuable for building purposes. 
Some kinds contained a great deal of sandy matter, 
and would not burn well, Another kind was magne- 
Sian limestone, so called because it contained carbonic 
acid. That which contained a large quantity of lime, 
with a smaller quantity of magnesia, was, generally 
Speaking, the best for agricultural purposes. It they 
took that limestone, burning would drive out the car- 
bonie acid, and leave nothing but the lime. Three 
tons of limestone would leave about ten hundred 
and a quarter, and give out three hundred and 
three quarters of gas. If they took that limestone after 
it was burnt and put water into it, it would become 
very hot, so hot that gunpowder would ignite. He 
would place that on the land in that state. If they took 
that burnt lime and spread it over the land in the usual 
way, it would work up in the Jand. The land generally 
drank carbonic acid from the air, which always con- 
tained a certain amount. It would naturally be asked 
why if the lime brought carbonic acid, what is the use 
of burning? Why, because they could reduce it toa 
fine powder at a far cheaper rate, and therefore they had 
it at a much greater advantage. Besides the state of 
lime there was another state—the state of marl. That 
was applied to the soil of Norfolk. It was a mixture of 
clay—sometimes eight or ten per cent. When applied 
to the soil it of course produced certain effects. If ap- 
plied to light sandy soil it consolidated it. Its chemical, 
9r as he would term it its agricultural effects, were much 
greater. For example,much depended on the kind of 
Grass they grew. It sweetened the Grass, and ren- 
dered the herbage more agreeable to the animal. Where 
bogs had before existed would spring up beautiful | 
herbage of Grass, and abundant crops of Wheat, and in- 
Crease also the quality of the soil. Thus, the application 
9f lime would remove those effeets on the health which 
undrained lands almost universally produced. It would 
render life more valuable and agreeable, which was a 
result every humane man ought and would take into 
A ideration in p ting indi l benefit. The lec- 
turer then referred to the quantity of lime which it was 
necessary should be applied to the land, year by year, in 
order to keep up the maximum state of fertility. The 
quantity he considered to be from 8 to 10 bushels per 
Acre. [t should be applied not year by year, but by 
Yotation according to circumstances. A very interest- 
ing practical question here arose, namely, was lime ne- 
cessary to all soils? He then drew attention to the 
uses of which geology was susceptible. [The Professor 
here referred to a geological map suspended on the wall.] 
The parts coloured blue represented limestone rock, In 
those districts the application of lime was not required in 
Such quantities as in other places. It was a curious fact 
also that the same district possessed numerous springs 
Containing lime, which, if properly employed in 
irrigation, deposited the lime on the land. Thus geology 
answered the question, What soils most need the appli- 
cation of lime? Another tract of country, coloured 
blue on the map, was based on slate, which contained 
Scarcely any lime. This country was chiefly moorland, 
and there was an evident natural want of lime. An- 
Other district was found to consist chiefly of trap-rock. 
Trap contained a considerable portion of lime, for in 
tons of whinstone there was as much lime as in 1 ton 
of limestone. It was a common practice near Hadding- 
ton to dig up the pieces of whinstone, and use them on 
the surface. A question of great practical importance 
had been asked—Was lime indispensable to land in 
Order to bring out all its fertility? His answer to that 
Was, that lime is absolutely indispensable. There was 
a table of the composition of three soils, which had 
een submitted to him. One of them contained 59 
Parts in the 1000; another contained 18 parts ; and 
the other 4 parts. ‘The first was found to be very fer- 
tile, the second ordinarily so, and the third barren. 
That which was most fertile had the greatest quantity 
of lime ; and thus they foünd the results of experience 
Confirming the deductions of analogy. If they took a 
Portion of any plant, and analysed it, they always found 
ime. Another proof was, that wherever lime was 
discontinued—unless it was derived from a, natural 
Source—the crops became sickly and unhealthy. They 
Soon found “ finger and toe,” and other ill consequences. 
uch was the case in the Wolds of Yorkshire ; and if 
they went to the Indies, they would there find that the 
laintain would not grow without lime. He had soil 
Sent over to him from the West Indies; he had recom- 
Mended lime as a remedy, and the result had been as 
he expected, not only with the Plaintain, but with the 
Cane and other crops. It might be asked, What are 
the Purposes of lime? A full answer to that question 
Would include many chemical results which he could 
Rot then enter into ; but it was certain that lime fed 
the plants, that they contained lime, and that they re- 
quired lime. Lime, it was well known, had the effect 
of so changing the vegetable matters left in the earth, 
as to prepare and fit them for contributing to the feed- 
ing of the plant. Mr. Briggs, in the pamphlet before 
referred to, had drawn attention to some facts—not 
beyond all dispute, but which they must admit to be, 
at least, probable effects. If they burnt any vege- 
table matter—set a hay-stack on fire for instance 
—they would find for every 10 tons of hay 1 ton 
of ash. That ash contained a certain portion of 
lime, of potash, sulphate of lime, &e. The rocks upon 
which the soil rested contained a quantity of those in- 
gredients ; and one effect of lime was to separate the 
soda and, potash from the rocks, and mix them up with 
the soil. This was one of the effects supposed to follow 
from the application of lime. Certain soils contained 
acids: some contained the spirit of salt, or muriatic 
acid; and lime being placed on this acid, deprived it of 
its corrosive action. In peaty soils sulphuric acid was 
present: the addition of lime destroyed the effect of 
the acid, and the roots can then safely go down and 
avail themselves of the nutriment provided. The next 
question was, in what state to apply the lime, 
whether slaked or as lime compost. When the land 
was stiff, he would advise the application of slaked lime: 
when it was a light sandy soil, he recommended it to be 
put on in compost. Then, the quantity to be applied ? 
When land was reclaimed for the first time, lime was 
applied in a large dose at first—in Scotland at the rate 
of 240 to 300 bushels to an acre. The effects were 
found gradually to inerease, but the full effect was not 
seen till six or eight years ; and it then gradually fell 
off towards the end of the lease; but after it had 
arrived at the highest state of fertility, to maintain it 
in that state required repeated doses year by year, ro- 
tation by rotation. Why was it necessary to repeat the 
lime? A portion was carried off by the rains. It sunk 
gradually beneath the reach of the spade or the plough. 
After a time, if they took up a spadeful of soil they 
would find a streak of lime; but after a further 
time, if they dug a spadeful they would find 
that the streak had disappeared: it had sunk 
into the earth, and was no longer of service. If 
they would fill their heads or their pockets they must 
continue to put in as, well as take out : they would soon 
exhaust a purse of its gold or silver if they took all out 
and put nothing in. In a crop they took out 10 different 
ingredients, and in lime they put in only one ingredient. 
It had passed into a proverb in all the countries in 
Europe, that “lime enriches the fathers and impove- 
rishes the sons.” The idea was prevalent that lime 
forced or persuaded the land, and it was not at all 
astonishing that if the fathers put large sums in their 
pockets there should be noue left for the sons. But, i 
the farmer would only be as kind to the land as the 
land was to him-—if he would only fulfil his promise 
to the land—there would be enough for both father and 
sons, In time, he believed they would come to this, 
that the farmer will be most anxious to supply as much 
as he takes out, and even to give more than he takes 
out of it: this, he believed, was the profitable farming 
that they should eventually come to. If they thought 
what he said or wrote was not profitable, they would be 
quite right in not following it. ere was one other 
point to refer to, that was the fear of an over dose : he 
assured them he could direct them to property where the 
whole rental had been trebled in a few years ; yet there 
were many who declare it was quite possible to add too 
much. In some parts of the country in Scotland, he 
knew land that had been reclaimed from the waste by 
the use of lime, and had produced ample crops for 
eight or nine years, and then refused even to grow Oats. 
If they went on it and trod on it, it gave way and the 
foot sunk. But this was the result of applying lime 
and then robbing the land and i ishing it b 
573 
The improvements of. Mr. Mechi are thus described, 
in his published “Letters on Agricultural Improve- 
ment” [Longman and Co.] :— 
“ lst. The perfect and permanent drainage of the 
land with stones and pipes, 4 yards apart, and 32 inches 
deep (between 80 and 90 miles of drains.)_2d. The 
entire removal of timber trees, which cannot profitably 
be grown in corn fields.—3d. The removal of old, 
crooked, and unnecessary banks, fences, and ditches. 
—4th. The cutting new parallel ditches and fences, so 
as to avoid short lands—5th. The inclosure of waste, 
and conversion of useless bog into good soil.—6th. The 
economising time and distance by new roads, arches, 
and more direct communications with the extremities 
of the farm,—7th. The erection of well arranged farm- 
buildings, built of brick, iron, and slate, in a continuous 
range, excluding all cold winds and currents of air, but 
open to sunny warmth.—8th. The building a substan- 
tial and genteel residence, with all due requisites for 
domestic comfort and economy.—9th. The erection of 
an efficient thrashing-machine, and needful apparatus 
for shaking the straw, dressing the corn, cutting chaff, 
bruising Oats, &., so constructed as not to injure the 
straw ; avoiding, by its perfect action, that immense 
waste of grain visible in almost every truss of straw we 
examine.—10th, The avoidance of thatching and risk o 
weather, by ample barn room, with convenience for in- 
door horse labour at thrashing, &c., when not employ- 
able without, so as to have no idle days for man or 
beast.—1llth. The saving of every pound and pint of 
manure by a tank (90 feet long, 6 feet deep, and 8 feet 
wide, with slated roof facing the north, and with well 
and pump), into which is received the whole drainage 
from the farm-yard and stables.—12th. The conveyance 
by iron gutters and pipes of every drop of water from 
the roofs of each building, so as in no manner to dilute 
the manure in yards.—13th. The perfect drainage of 
the foundations of the barn, and every building on the 
farm.— 14, A cooking-house to prepare food for cattle.” 
Mr. Mechi hasremoved 200 timber trees, 5000 yards 
of fences ; filled up a large number of crooked ditches, 
and dug straight ones. He has since estimated that, if 
his drains had been laid down (as recommended by Mr. 
Parkes, the engineer) 4 feet deep, instead of 30 iaches, 
he should have saved 8007, and drained his farm 
equally well, or better. We do not think that a tree or 
pollard exists on Mr. Mechi’s farm ; the former high 
banks have been levelled, and the immense quantity of 
earth which these contained has been either burned or 
mixed with lime-ashes, and turned over and over before 
being returned to the fieldsas manure. A bog of about 
4 acres in extent, from which horses had formerly to be 
drawn out, has been drained 11 feet deep, and a spring 
has thus been released, which is said to run 10,000 gal- 
lonsin 24 hours. This bog, when seen by the deputa- 
tion, Lore a luxuriant crop of Mangold Wurzel and 
Wheat,-which latter was somewhat laid, although it had 
been three times flagged. There is scarcely a foot 
waste on the farm, unless it be the furrows between the 
stitches, which look ugly to a Kentish eye, and which 
Mr. Mechi still retains in deference to the “custom of 
the country.” It was also thought by one or two of 
the deputation that some of the open ditches might be 
profitably converted into main drains. With these ex- 
ceptions the deputation were i ly of opinion 
that the land had been laid out most advantageously 
for the business of farming. There was nothing to im- 
pede the full action of sun and air, no hedgerow shelter 
for weeds, birds, moles, game, or other vermin ; every 
field within an easy reach of the homestead, around 
which there were continuous hard roads, Where fences 
were required, they were formed either of post and rail 
or of iron. 
Mr. Mechi has discarded the old square form for his 
buildi 
I 
taking everything and giving nothing for years. = Sir J. 
acpherson Grant had sent him some of this soil which 
full effects on organic and inorganic matter, it must be 
TIPTREE-HALL Farm.—( Report of Maidstone Farmers’ 
Club.) — Mr. Mechi purchased Tiptree-hall farm in 
1843. It had been let previously for 1507. per annum, 
when the produce was estimated at only 5/. per acre. 
Mr. Mechi laid out in the purchase of the farm and its 
improvements (according to his letter of June 11, 1844) 
the following sums :— 
Purchase of farm (130 acres) — .. zs .. 8250 0 0 
Draining, fencing, levelling, ditching androads 2200 0 0 
Barn, stabling, tanks, sheds, yards, &c. ++ 2000 0 0 
House and offices ,. oc vt y e a | 
Machinery, implements, cooking apparatus, &c. 
Manure, marl &c, ° .. ot DE MSS QO 5007 0:0 
£9450 0 0 
gs, which always has the disadvantage of 
shutting outa portion of the southern aspect, and is 
together i pati with the ical manage- 
ment of manure. Every portion of Mr. Mechi's home- 
stead is drained, and approachable by a hard road 
which runs all round it, It resembles more a factory, 
every part of which may easily be reached from every 
other, and forms a singular contrast with the chilly and 
sloppy farm-yards all over the country. All the drain- 
age of the house, stables, cow-houses, and piggeries, are 
drained into the manure-pit, into which all the dung is 
carried. The distance is, in no case, farther to carry it 
than to the centre of an ordinary farm-yard ; and the 
labour of wheeling it there, being on a smooth road, is 
not one-fourth of that of wheeling it through a dung- 
yard. It has been said that Mr. Mechi has no yards ; 
he has no use for yards, except for watering. All his 
food is given in the manger, and the only use he makes 
of theiron horse-racks in his stable is for holding lumps. 
of rock-salt. All the buildings have gutters, which 
carry off every drop of rain-water. The loft floor, 
above the stable, seems low, and the first idea that pre- 
sents itself is, that there is a want of ventilation. / This 
is provided by a row of air bricks, both in back and 
front, close to the ceiling, by means of which the tem- 
perature of the buildings can be easily regulated. In 
the stable there is still, however, an ammoniacal smell ; 
and it might, in the opinion of the deputation, be im- 
proved by greater ventilation. The litter, being cut 
into chaff, completely absorbs the moisture. The pas- 
sage at the head of the bullock-house leads from the 
stable chaff-bin to the chaff-room, into which the eut 
litter falls; and also to the apartment into which the 
chaff is blown by the cleaning machine. The granary 
is at the north end of the barn over the horse-wheel, so 
that both litter and food are close at hand. The horses 
