ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
36 
19. It is wrong to pretend, as some do, that the effect 
of lime is different as it happens to be in the state of car¬ 
bonate or that of quick-lime. Facts prove the contrary, 
and theory agrees with them. In effect, lime, when it 
comes from the kiln where it is quick, is deprived of its 
carbonic acid ; but it recovers it very soon when placed in 
the soil, by taking possession of that which it finds there, 
or by drawing it from the atmosphere. Thus, whether 
we place the caustic lime or the carbonate of lime in the 
earth, it must in the end be carbonate of lime that pro¬ 
duces the effect. Only lime deprived of its carbonic acid, 
may be employed in rather smaller quantity. 
20. We repeat, to fix the attention upon the utility of 
lime, that the farmer ought by all means to make a trial 
of it on a small scale, upon the different species of soil that 
he cultivates. He may be guided by the result of these 
experiments. Without this precaution, he would run the 
risk of losses, often heavy. 
QUESTIONS. 
1. Does lime produce an effect on ail soils mat are not calcareous ? 
2. What ought to be done to ascertain if a soil should be limed ? 
3. What is the error that has often caused liming to be abandoned f 
4. What is the effect of lime without manure? 
5. How ought we to consider the liming of land ? 
6. Is there a difference in the effect of carbonated and caustic lime ? 
7 What should the farmer do to decide about liming? 
LESSON IV. 
LIMING LANDS (CONTINUED). 
21. We have seen that lime gives activity to vegetation, 
by the property which it possesses <' decomposing humus 
and rendering it sooner fit to se' as food to plants. I 
