36 LAYING OUT GROUNDS. 



of peat. Lime may be applied as a simple dressing, or when com- 

 pounded. 



Where lands are discovered to possess iron or other metallic sub- 

 stances, lime is the best corrective, and an excess of vegetable matter 

 in the earth will be the most readily decomposed by it. In some cases 

 lime has proved to be pernicious to land ; but the cause has been 

 that the limestone possessed a portion of magnesian earth, and mag- 

 nesia, being less attractive to the carbonic gas of the atmosphere, has 

 in consequence remained in its caustic state, which is highly per- 

 nicious to vegetation ; but pure limestone, after being burnt, readily 

 absorbs carbonic gas, which renders it of a fertilizing quality. Car- 

 bonate of lime, or chalk, is of the greatest service to wet land, as it 

 possesses in an eminent degree the quality of absorption. Wood- 

 ashes act on the same principle. Soot is a good manure, as it con- 

 tains a volatile salt, with a portion of oil : it should be applied as 

 a compound with vegetable mould. 



The soil from a pigeon-house is most powerful in its action : it 

 should be applied as a compound only ; it proves excellent when 

 mixed with wood-ashes. 



The manure from the cow-house should not be used alone, nor 

 should it ever be applied to wet and heavy lands, from its being of 

 a cold nature and reluctant to incorporate. 



Sea-weed is proved to be a good manure ; but there should not be 

 expected from it more than one crop : it may be applied as a simple 



