Review of Essays on Calcareous Manures. 161 



This formation, or one analogous in its fertilizing character, is 

 however of no frequent occurrence, it therefore remains for us to en- 

 quire whether other forms of calcareous matter may not answer the 

 same purpose. Such is the extensive diffusion of lime in nature, 

 that there are few or no regions where it cannot be procured. Even 

 in primitive regions, beds or veins of granular carbonate of lime, are 

 of occasional occurrence, and in those which are alluvial, the re- 

 mains of recent shell fish are not wholly wanting. Much, however, 

 will depend in the success of its application, upon the quantity which 

 is required, as it may happen that when this is considerable, the 

 expense of transportation may equal, or more than counterbalance 

 the benefit it is calculated to produce. This question can be solved 

 only by reference to the practice of those countries, in which lime 

 has been applied with success. 



In the north of England, and in Scotland, the use of lime as a 

 manure, may almost appear to be excessive. Two hundred bush- 

 els per acre are often applied to sandy soils, and from three to four 

 hundred on clay. Dressings of this amount are renewed once in 

 every term of twenty one years. This high rate of application 

 could not however be practised upon land not yet habituated to its 

 use, and would in most parts of the United States, be too costly to 

 yield any profit. 



In England the lime is usually laid in small heaps on the fields, 

 in its caustic state, and spread as soon as it becomes air-slaked. 



In the department of I'Ain in France, the dressings are about 

 eighty bushels to the acre, and are applied as a preparation for every 

 grain crop. 



The lime here, is also laid in heaps in its caustic state, but these 

 are immediately covered with earth, which remains until the lime is 

 slaked, when the earth and it are intimately mixed, and after hav- 

 ing rested for a fortnight, are again thoroughly incorporated. In this 

 state they remain for another fortnight, when the whole is uniformly- 

 distributed over the ground. 



In Flanders the quantity of lime applied, is from forty to fifty 

 bushels to the acre, and the dressing is not repeated oftener than 

 once in ten or twelve years. The lime is usually mixed with the 

 ashes of bituminous coal or of turf, or formed into a compost with 

 other manures. 



In the department of La Sarthe, the lime is applied once in three 

 years, and in the form of compost. 



Vol. XXX.— No. 1. 21 



