144 
Improved Kilns for harniiifj Lime. 
or small constant supply may bo drawn from the kiln, when- 
actin<; as a perpetual kiln, by regulating the fires. The kiln 
can be kept going very steadily for many hours, or even days, 
by light stoking, opening the skives only a small distance and 
closing them as soon as the smoke has burned off ; or by fre- 
(|uent heavy stokings, opening the skives wide, and keeping 
them open for a short time after the smoke has burned off. 
The fires may be raised from a low red heat to a heat suffi- 
cient to calcine lime in a very few hours. The kiln may be 
drawn every 6, 12, 24, or 36 hours, and the lime will take 
12 hours to cool before it can be removed or stored. 
The proportion of fuel consumed to lime produced would 
be, as nearly as I can calculate, as 1 to 10 for chalk lime, and 
1 to 7 for stone lime. 
The advantages of this form of kiln would be : — 
1st. That all the lime would be thoroughly calcined. 
2nd. That no dirt or cinders would be found amongst it. 
3rd. The easy way of regulating the fires, and the quantity of 
lime to be produced in a given time. 
4th. The probable large economy of fuel. 
The disadvantages, as compared with a common perpetual 
kiln, would be : — 
1st. The increased cost of the first erection, though this would 
be very small as compared with other perpetual kilns heated 
from the bottom. 
2nd. The extra trouble and time required in attending upon 
the fires. 
Y.— Conclusion. 
I have now completed my description of the various sorts of 
kilns applicable for burning lime for agricultural purposes, and 
have only to draw attention to one or two of the chief points in 
connexion with the application of the lime to the land, so as to give 
agriculturists the means of calculating the cost, and thus enable 
them to decide whether it would be better for them to purchase 
the lime, or to construct kilns for burning lime for themselves. 
These points are, 1st., and by far of the greatest importance, 
the description of material yielded by the various lime districts, 
the weight per bushel, the number of cubic feet per ton, the 
proportion of lime produced to fuel consumed, the price per 
bushel at the nearest station, and other useful items.* 
2nd. The best way of slaking lime for agricultural pur- 
poses, which would be best ascertained by instituting a course 
of experiments in different districts. I think it is perfectly clear 
* I propose to collect statistics on this subject, and to publish them in a cheap 
form.— C. T. 
