IRON ORE, LIMESTONE, AND COAL. F 2 . 105 



poorer sort of land in Perry county at the present time. 

 Some of the farmers are in the condition of men who pos- 

 sess an annuity, but overdraw it every year, thus reducing 

 the principal, dollar by dollar, until it falls too low to afford 

 them a living. 



An intelligent farmer aided by a knowledge of the chem- 

 ical principle above laid down, will see that he can only se- 

 cure an advantage from lime by placing in the ground a 

 supply of organic material which the lime will convert into 

 plant-food. This snpply may be obtained by manuring it; 

 by allowing it to lie fallow, when the weeds which spring 

 up and die will add their remains to the soil ; or, by growing 

 some green crop upon it, such as clover, the tops and espe- 

 cially the roots of which contribute largely to its stock of 

 organic material. (A crop of red clover is said to yield 

 about 8 tons of roots.) This is attacked by the lime, when 

 added, and quickly decomposed, whereas naturally the pro- 

 cess would require a much longer time. Hence liming the 

 soil does not really add anything to its fertility, but only 

 anticipates the future and brings back to the farmer in one 

 or two years what would be otherwise spread over more. 



The farmer should also bear in mind the fact that quick- 

 lime, when exposed to the air, rapidly absorbs from it car- 

 bonic acid, and returns to its former condition of carbonate 

 of lime, when it is of little or no use to the land. 



Lime should be applied fresh ; for, a heap of burnt lime 

 left in the open air rapidly recarbonates itself and loses 

 most of its value. If it cannot be spread at once, it should 

 be well covered with earth to prevent the absorption of car- 

 bonic acid. A few drops of muriatic acid (or spirits of 

 saltj if added to carbonate of lime, will cause strong effer- 

 vescence or bubbling, owing to the escape of the gas, whereas, 

 if added to quicklime, little or no effervescence will ensue. 

 In this way the good or bad condition of a stack of slaked 

 lime may readily be determined. 



The use of lime does not, however, altogether end here. 

 In some parts of Perry county, especially those which lie 

 upon the red sandstones of the Catskill group, the soil and 

 subsoil contain a considerable quantity of potash in the 



