34 
LIME AS MAMTttE. 
inches in diameter. These trees are perfectly 
hardy in'our climate, and what is very desirable, 
as ornamental trees, their foliage remains green 
at least six weeks longer than the American spe¬ 
cies. We understand that Mr. Derby has a nur¬ 
sery of about 1,000 young oaks ready to transplant 
for permanent growth, which he will sell at 50 
cents each, single, or at a reasonable discount 
where larger quantities may be required. We 
can not too warmly recommend the cultivation of 
this stately tree, either for ornament or profit. 
LIME AS MANURE. 
There are considerable portions of our country 
where the application of lime for agricultural pur¬ 
poses has not yet been introduced. When it can 
be had at reasonable rates, we are satisfied it is 
in almost all cases a profitable application as a 
manure. The result of so many and well-weigh¬ 
ed careful experiments, would seem to have put 
its manifest utility beyond any question. In ad¬ 
verting to lime at this present moment, our main 
design is merely to suggest some of the most ob¬ 
vious occasions for its use. 
In almost all soils where lime does not naturally 
exist, either as pulverized rock, shells, or marl, its 
application is attended with decided advantage. 
It may he used at the rate of 50 to 150 bushels 
per acre the first year, and from 20 to 30 bushels 
per acre every three to five years after, according 
to the circumstances of the land, the kind of crops 
and rotation. We are aware that some will differ 
with us in recommending the use of so small a 
quantity; they contending, that where oyster- 
shell, or stone lime free from magnesia, is used, 
from 200 to 500 bushels may be safely put on the 
acre, and then the land will want no further appli¬ 
cation for ten to fifty years. The objection to such 
large quantities is, that the lime rapidly exhausts 
the organic matter in the soil, and it requires a 
great quantity of manure, and a long time of rest 
to restore it. If the soil be a stiff clay, and full 
of inert vegetable matter, such as fibrous roots, 
undecayed vegetation, or peat, much larger quan¬ 
tities should be used than on lighter soils, and 
those more free of the above organic matter. 
Lime should be applied by dumping it in small 
heaps, and allowing it to slack to a fine powder 
by the air, or by throwing water upon it if conve¬ 
nient, and then as soon as this is accomplished, 
spread it broad-cast upon the land. Sea-water is 
much better than fresh for slacking lime, as it adds 
to its fertilizing qualities. Some contend that thus 
slacked it will have double the effect upon the 
land ; but we consider so great a difference as this 
a matter of doubt. The reason of allowing lime 
to slack before plowing it into the soil is, that it 
absorbs from the air the carbonic acid which has 
been expelled by heat. It is an unnecessary waste 
to apply it as quicklime to the soil, and allow it 
to seize on the carbon it there finds. It is very 
greedy of carbonic acid, and it will soon absorb 
from the atmosphere all that is required for its 
saturation. 
After being well slacked and spread, the lime 
should be plowed in, not too deep, and as thor¬ 
oughly incorporated with the soil by harrowing 
as possible. The effect it now has upon the soil 
is to decompose the vegetable matter, and render 
it at once food for plants. Lime is almost equally 
advantageous to all crops, fruit-trees, and what¬ 
ever constitutes the object of the farmer’s attention. 
Good crops may in numerous instances be grown 
without the use of lime; but in almost all would 
they be greater or more enduring with the same 
quantity of manure. It gives increased efficacy 
and lastingness to the manure. 
On grass-fields, lime may be scattered broad¬ 
cast, and its beneficial influence is soon witnessed 
in the improved health and increased quantity of 
the grass. Fields thus dressed will resist drought 
much better than they otherwise would, lime hav¬ 
ing a greater affinity for moisture, and drawing 
largely at all times from the atmosphere. 
Besides its effect on manures, lime produces a 
most beneficial influence on many soils. Some of 
these contain deleterious substances, such as vege¬ 
table acids, the salts of iron and manganese, fee. 
The lime, when brought into contact with these, 
at once combines with the acids, and converts 
what was positively injurious to vegetation, into 
what is positively beneficial to it. The same ef¬ 
fect is produced in peat soils which are saturated 
with tannin and gallic acid. These it combines 
with, and not only render innocuous, but converts 
into a substance highly favorable to vegetation. 
On sandy soils it is very useful by rendering them 
more compact, retaining the manures, and attract¬ 
ing moisture; while on clay soils it partially breaks 
up their adhesiveness by insinuating its particles 
between the alumina, and there undergoing vari¬ 
ous chemical combinations, it tends to make it 
more porous. 
Winter is the most appropriate time for burning 
lime, and it may be applied to the land as soon as 
the snow has melted off in the spring. 
