Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, August 09, 1839, Image 1
A
CHERAW GAZETTE
AND
PEE DEE FARMER.
VOLUME IV. " CHERAW. SOUTH-CAROLINA, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 1839. NUMBER XXXIX
9Se
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
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" "? O" w
KTTha Postage mast be paid on all commu. J
nications.
PWM???????????f??I
Liquid .tlauures,
OPINION OF THE LATE T. 0. KNIGHT, E3Q,
u I have shown, in a former communica* j
lion," said the late President of the Horticultural
Society," that a seedling plum stock,
growing in a small pot, attained the height 1
of nine feet seven inches in a single season,
which is, I helieve, a much greater height
than any seedling tree of that species was
ever seen to attain in the open soil. But the <
(quantity of earth which a stnall pot contains
soon becomes exhausted relatively to one
kind of plan', though it may be siill fertile
relatively to o:hers, and the size of the pot J
cannot be changed sufficiently often to re?
medy this loss of fertility ; and if it were
ever so frequently changed, the mass of
mould, which each successive omission of
roots would enclose must remain the same. 1
Manure, therefore, can probably be most (
beneficially given in a purely liquid state, J
and the quantity which trees growing in {
pots have thus taken under my care without '
any injury, and with the greatest good effect, 1
has much exceeded every expectation I had 1
formed. I have for some years appropriated '
a forcing.house at Downton to the purpose !
of experiment solely upon fruit trees, which, 1
as I have frequent occasion to change, the !
subjects on which I have to operate are 1
confined in pots. These at first were sup. j
plied wi;h water, in which one-tenth by mea.
sure of the dung of pigeons or domestic 1
poultry, had been infused, and the quantity 1
of these substances (generally the lattsr) !
was increased from one-tenth to one.fourth.
The water, after standing forty-eight hours,
acquired a color considerably deeper than
that of porter, and in this state it was drawn !
off clear, and employed to feed trees of the
vine, the mulberry, tho peach, and other !
plants: a second quantity of water was then 1
amdied. and afterwards used in the same [1
I I ?
manner when the manure was changed, and '
the same process repeated. The vine and y
the mulberry being very gross feeders, c
were not likely to be soon injured by this '
treatment; but I expected tho peach-tree, 1
which is often greatly injured by an excess
of manure in a solid state, to give early in- <
dications of being over-fed. Contrary, '
however, to my expectations, the peach-tree '
maintained at the end of two years the mo9t '
healthy and luxuriant appearance imagin. 1
able, and produced fruit in tho last season '
in greater perfection than I had ever previ- |
ously been able to obtain from it. Some
seedling plants had then acquired at 18 1
months old (though the whole of their roots 1
had been confined to half a square foot of J
mould) more than eleven feet in height, 1
with numerous brunches, and have afforded 1
a most abundant and vigorous bloom in 1
the present spring, which has set remarks. *
biy well, and those trees which had been 1
* - ' ' -nrl iui.li mannro ho VP 1
mosiaDUiiuaziujr iiibuw ,
displayed the greatest degree of health and 1
luxuriance. A single orange.tree was sub. 1
jected to the same mode of treatment, and J
grew wiih equal comparative vigor, and '
appeared to be as much benefitted by ab- '
undant food as even the vine and the mul. '
berry tree," [British Farmer's Mag.
Stable Manure and Bone Du9t lor <
railing Turnips on a clay soil* t
The following ate the particulars of a 1
comparative trial of stable.manure and *
bone-dust for raising turnips on a clay soil, ?
by Mr. Henry Maxwell, of Calaerwood, on 1
Sir W illiam Maxwell's property, of Calder- 1
wood, this season.
The nature of the soil where the turnips ?
grow may be described as a strong loam 1
on a retentive clay bottom. Before drain. r
ing, the field generally was very wet and 1
sour, but a thorough application of the cross t
or branch drain system completely divested 1
it of all moisture; and as the ground was 1
ploughed and cleared under favorable bus. r
pices, the condition of the land at the time '
of receiving the seed was very satisfactory. *
It may be proper to remark, that the field, (
which was old lea, was drained in the be. i
ginning of 1832, a crop of oats taken off it <
during that season, and prepared for turnips 1
during last spring. In addition to the *
quantities of manure laid on the land, as i
will be found in the statement below, seven 1
and a half chaldrons of lime, of excellent 1
quality, were opplied to each acre (the '
Scotch). ThQseed, which was ofthe finest '
quality (procured from Mr. Lawson), was 1
all deposited at rather an early period.? '
Where stable manure was applied, the 1
braid came away at fiist more rapidly and 1
vigorously than was tho with the bpnea; I
but, ultimately, the bones gained ground,
and, if any thin^, got rather the start of the s
stable manure in point of straw or leaves, v
The whole field brair-led beautifully, with a
scarce an exception, and the crop did not tl
suffer in any degree from the ravages of tl
the fiy. In order to ascertain the results r
if the bone ond stable manure in regard to ti
he produce of turnip per acre, the most v
iccurate calculations and trials were made; n
ind I have no hesitation in affirming the it
correctness of the statement in all particu- h
ars. In conclusion, I have merely to n
emark, that the quality of the soil is by b
ro means particularly well adapted for t<
:urnip culture, partaking, as it does, rather o
oo much of the clayey character, for which b
'cason, also, there is litile doubt that the a
:omparativcly unfavorable developement of ?
he effects of bones as a manure is chiofly tl
;o be ascribed. As to the quality of the f<
urnips produced, the specimens which I n
rave sent to Mr. Lawson's very interesting ii
rgricultural museum will best testify. They
vere carefully selected, with a view of fur- tl
lishing a fair average of each description, a
rhis is the s'atement referred to? d
Swedish?30 cart loads slablo manure, per 0
Scotch arcre, produced 29 tons C
0 bushels crushed bones per fj
ditto 24 .i
Dale's Hybrid?30 cart loads stable
manure per ditto 33
60 bushels crushed per ditto 91 a
45 ditto, per ditto 29 U
fellow Bullock?30 cart loads stable fj
manure per ditto 29
60 bushels crushed bones per 1
ditto 28 c
31obc?30 bushel* crushed bones per 0
ditto 25 f
25 ditto ditto, per ditto ditto 23 tons c
and 18 cwt. ?
No stable manure.?[British Quarterly J
fournal of Agriculture. " r
? o
liime*
From the Edinburgh Encyclopddia. c
Lime has been regarded by some as a r
nanure, by others as a stimulus, which a
:an only be piofiiably applied where the r
soil possesses some dormant principle of c
ertility that needs to be roused into action. ^
[n fact, the modus operandi of lime is im- j
perfectly understood, though the greater ^
part of agriculturists seem pretty well ac- t
juainted with i s effects. It is sufficiently (
jndcrstood, that land which has been long
n grass, contains much vegetable matter, k,
and that the trouble and expense of liming c
t will be amply repaid ts the cultivator; but a
he propriety of applying lime on old ara- t
ale lands has been questioned, and with
nuch justice, by the most part of practical
tgricuhurists, and their doubts on that head (
are confirmed by iliu fullo&l ?xp?Mri?noo. If .
iime were a manure, then it would be a no.
i>ie substance for enriching and restoring
fertility to lands that were worn out by a
succession of corn crops; but as worn out
and is not restored to fertility by theapplL ^
:ationof lime, we are warranted to rank it
in a different class, or, to speak more cor.
ectly, as an article calculated to bring cer. j
ain principles into action, which were pre. j,
riously possessed by the soil. This con. Q
dusion is sanctioned by experience: and ex?
.n.tnniui to fa. o kottor rmirtp than thft most
ICI ICUV/Q 19 101 U WVUWt _
)lausible theory.
Lime has been used with very great suc?
:ess in every part of Great Britain, though
it is evident that the grossest errors have
been committed in the after management
of land to which lime has been applied ;
bnd, what is worse, that the extent of these
errors was in direct proportion to the effect
produced upon the soil by the applica'ion.
This remark applies more to the former
state of husbandry than to the psesent practice,
because the former rule was to crop
10 long as the earth would make a good return,
without considering that a field, so
treated, was not to be recovered for a cen.
tury afterwards. Indeed, when lime duly
operates, the whole powers of the soil are
put in a state of requisition, and may be
forced to act till the very soul of vegetation
s extracted. It is scarcely practicable to
cstore fertility, to land, even of the best natu*a!
quality, which has been thus abused; at
east a considerable period must elapse be~
" " *1""" ,/>. ita nrioinn 1 fprlilitc I I
IMrt7 |IV*U1I UC vu iv ivd v??giki*-. y j
)Ut thin moorish soils, after being exhausted j
>y lime, are not to be restored. To lime them r
i second time, is not only a useless eipen. [
liture of labor and money, but also produc* f
ive of serious mischief. Soils of this descrip- j
iofif, after a second liming, are apt to singe \
ind burn the grain that is sown upon thom, t
md even when dunged, not to make such s
i return as would have been rendered under (
lifferent circumstances.
It is a difficult matter to say at what peri. c
>d the use of lime was first introduced into r
Britain ; but as it was well known to the Ro- t
nans, there is good reason to believe, that t
>y this ingenious people, the uso of it was
irst brought into practice in this island. Be ^
hat as it may, this mineral after undergoing \
he process of calcination, has long been op. i
died by British husbandmen as a stimulus c
o the soil, and, in consequence of such an t
ipplication, luxuriant crops have been pro. f
luced, even upon soils apparently of infer- <
or quality, aud which would have yielded \
:rops of trifling value, had this auxiliary ,
)een withheld. In fact, the majority of
soils cannot be cultivated with advantage till t
they are dressed with lime j and whether ;
this beneficial effect shall be considered as r
an alternative, or as a stimulant, or as a ma. {
Mire, it will be found to be the basis ofgood (
husbandry, and of more use than all other t
manures put together. Wherever lime has y
been properly applied, it has constantly been t
found to prove us much superior to dung, ;
as dung is to the rakinga of roads, or the \
produce of a peat mire.
From a pretty long experience, and con- 1
iderable attention to the operation of lime, i
re are inclined to think that it acta both as t
n alternative and a stimulant, operating in
he one case as & medicine, that changes I
he nature of the soil, and in the other, us
ousing, or bringing into action, the vege^ i
able powers contained in the soil, which t
without suchau application, would have re. i
nained dormant and inactive.* These op- t
lions, we know are different from what 1
ave been maintained by several ingenious
len on the subject; but they are supported |
y the result of numerous trials, undertaken j
i ascertain how, and in what manner, lime
perated upon the soil, and whether it could 1
e used in a hot or effete state with the most <
dvantage. On these points, theoretical
rnters are apt to fall into mistakes ; and 1
iere fore every theory not forme* from i
icts, must be viewed as a romance which I
iay amuse, but cannot instruct agriculture t
its. <
The writer of this article, for a period of
hirtv years, has been in the regular habit of 1
pplying considerable quantities of limo; in.
Iced few of bis profession have used more i
f this usefal article. Io the majority of <
ases, the application has been highly bene, t
icial to his interest, changing in a manner |
be very nature of the soil, and causing it i
o produce the mo9t abundant crops; where, i
s in others, the article has been altogether I
iseless, and in some instances the applies. <
ion has been followed by mischief instead i
?f benefit. As most of these trials were exe. 1
uted upon a large scale, and upon soils of i
ilmost every different quality, more bene, i
it may be gathered from a succinct accoount 1
?f them than from a long chain of argument. <
The trials aro fairly stated, and the results I
nay perhaps throw some light upon this <
ibstruse subject. i
It is proper to promise, that a good deal ;
if uncertainty prevails with agriculturists, <
especting the application of this article;
ind that much dispute has taken place a
nong those who have applied it only to i
me kind of soil, or have cot used it under
lifferent circumstances. Some have conended,
that lime ought to be applied only
vhen it is in a hot powdered state ; and
hat when it becomes ejfetct the effects are
tomparativety trifling and unavailing. Othire
maintain, that grass land is the best bed
or the reception of lime, while many of
>ur most enlightened farmers strenuously
iffirm, that it is roost judiciously used when
he land gets a complete summer-fallow. It
could not be difficult to prove, that each
:lass of disputants, in the view they take of
he subject are m? tno right; and
hat they only condemn the system of othirs,
because their own has turned out to be
uccessful. Our opinion is, that, in every
:ase where the land is constitutionally disposed
to receive benefit from a calcareous
Iressing, that is, when it is refreshed by
jrass or enriched by dung, it is of little imlortance,
in respect of operation, whether
ime is applied hot or effete ; upon grass
und, or upon fallow ; and that convenifmaaT 1
ught chiefly to be studied, when the most
iroper time for applying the article is to be
iscertained. In point of economy, there can
>e no doubt, but that lime is most econo- i
nically used, when laid upon laud hot from
he kiln ; this mode also lessens the expense
>f labor considerably ; consequently the
>raclice of using it when effetet is more exjcnsivc.
It is obvious, however, that a
choice of season is not always in the fan.
ner's power ; and that imposing necessity
ilten obliges him to lay on iime when completely
effete. Repeated trials, however,
lave convinced us, that its operations are
equally beneficial in tne one state as in the
ither ; though the expense in tho last case,
is already said, is greater than in the for.
ner. With regaid to the other branch of
lispute, whether land in grass, or land in
allow, is the roost proper bed for the reception
of lime, we are of opinion, tha! the
liference is immaterial. If grass land is
clean, and if lime can be got forward at tho
ime, the application will be as efficacious
nrtd vmitohf
ipOU llf CSS upuu U1V 4 IVIJVWI www* f? vug..*
lummer-fallow.
That these things are not matter of op?
nion, we mean to show, by detailing the
esults of the trials made to ascertain the !
acts. To render these details more per- 1
ect, wc shall mention the nature of the surace
and subsoil upon which the several !
rials were made, and explain the state of
he ground at the time; and, when neces- |
lary, the management practised for a series
>f years afterwards. 1
Field, No. 1. was soil chiefly composed
>f thin clny, some of it approaching to Q
noorish quality, i. e. mixed with peat earth; ;
he whr'e incumbent upon a subsoil reten
ive of moisture. 1
This field had been in grass for several <
fears, but yielded very poor returns. It |
vas fallowed without taking any corn crop; '
md the lime which was brought forward i
luring the summer months, was applied in
he following spring, previous to the seed- i
urrow being given. At that time, it was
:omp!etely effete, and would hardly go from
he shovels. About $5 Jjinlithgow barley
To denominate lime a medicine, so far as its
iction ia confined to the soil, is to use language
rery loosely. It wouid be incorrect to denoroi.
late an improved mode of curing bacon, a me.
ficmo. Lime seems to act chemically and me*
>bameally upon soils to which it is adapted, and
hus improves their properties for supporting
vegetable life Jt seems also to act as a medicine
tonic to the plant in stimulating it to take up
md assimilate nourishment from the soil, as
utters and other tonics stimulate the digestive
organs in th* animal economy. TA C, Gas,
jolls, or 280 Winchester bushels, as origin,
illy laid down, were applied to each Scotish
itatute acre.
First year?The crop was oats, but liitle
jenefit was discovered from the lime.
Second year?The ground began to fer.
ncnt, which showed, that the lime was in
iction. The husbandry of flax being then
n vogue, it was tried upon this held ; and
he crop was excellent, both in respect of
lax and seed.
Third year?It was sown with gray
seas after two furrows, which returned a
rreat bulk of straw, but not much grain.
The clay part of the field was now quite
oose and free, while the moorish soil seemid
more compact and firm.
Fourth year?Red wheat was sown,
nrhjob turned out a bulky crop, though the
bright, reedy,.andor greatT&ngrn. Pernapr
L. -f J ? ?' "'
.no gicuicai ^uaiiiiiy vi uung tfjJjmeu ui
)nce, would not have produced such a crop.
Fifth year?The neld was summer faL
owed, but no dung was applied*
Here it may, with justice, be urged, that
i great error was committed in withholding
Jung at this stage ; and it is acknowledged,
;hat a dose of manure, had ciscumstances
permitted, could not have been more beneficially
bestowed* In vindication of the
management practised, we may only state
that at the period in question, dung was a
very scarce article upon the farm ; and that
many fields would not crop at all, ifit was
withheld. The ono under consideration,
appeared quite capable of carrying several
more crops, without assistance: consequently
viewing the economy of the farm as a
whole, it was ihougTu preferable to act in
the manner described. Many things are
eligible in general management, which cannot
be individually executed; and, as in
public affairs, a partial evil must often be
committed to promote the general, good.
Sixth year?The field was sown with
oats, and produced a heavy crop both of
Btraw and corn. Grass seeds were sown
with the oats.
Seventh year?The field was depastured
with cattle. The grass wa9 but indifferent,
which is a common circumstances upon new
limed land : at least where a heavy dose
is given. This induced us to plough it again,
in the succeeding spring.
Eighth year?Oats were sown, which
yielded a decent crop.
Ninth year?-The field was thoroughly
summer?fo!lowed and dunged, at the rate
of sixteen double loads to the Scotish acre.
Wheat was sown.
Tenth year?The crop of wheat was excellent,
being not only bulky, but or fine
\juuiiijr*
Eleventh year?Oafs and gras9 seeds
were sown, and the ground surrendered to
pasture. Since that time, it h&9 been a fewyears
under corn; and thougn the produce
of these crops cannot, by any exertion, be
made to equal those which are enumerated;
yet the so;! is evidently much improved in
mfftS respect, when compared with its orgtnai
state, previous to ibv limo being np.
plied.
Field, No. 2, was a real moorish soil, in.
cumbent upon a close bottom, which had
been overcropped after lime, by a former
tenant.
We began with a summer.fallow, and applied
a part of the same kind of lime which
answered so well upon field No. 1. The
lime, was laid on during a hard black frost,
&t the rate of 35 bolls, or 210 bushels per
acre, and was then effete. Oats were sown ;
but the crop was a poor one, and the after
attempts were not more successful. The
stalk of the plant generally singed and docayed,
after the strength of the seed pickle
was gone ; which is a sure proof of ground
being worn out with lime. This will ah
ways happen, though in different degrees,
upon all such land, unless a considerable
quantity of dung is bestowed ; which unfor*
tunately, in this instance was not the case.
Field, No. 3.?The soil was of a moorish
quality, but superior to that of No. 2.
We fallowed the field qut of gra<s, and
applied lime hot from the kiln ; but the consequences
were much the same as mentioned
in the preceding instance. The oat-crop
looked brisk at first, but decayed daily, as
the strength of the pickle was exhausted.
Tried dung with a second fallow, when the
lime appeared to operate in a trifling degree,
but not to that extent as to repay the expense
incurred.
Field, No. 4.?The soil was partly thin
clay, the remainder of a soft sandy nature,
but all upon a wet bottom.
This field had lain, for a great many
years, in grass, and displayed no signs of
having been previously limed. We applied
the lime upon the grass surface, when it was
ana ploughed for oats : the crop
good. The lime did not come into full
action till the third year, when pease were
sown ; and, for a number of years afterwards,
the different crops taken were not
inferior to those of the best in the field.
Field, No. 6.??The soil was chiefly a
soft loam upon a wet bottom ; which at
any rate, had not been limed since the
ridgea wcro levelled and straightened.
We summer-fallowed this field, after a
crop of wheat, and dunged it substantially,
as it appeared to be in an exhausted state.
We applied lime hot from the kiln, at the
rate of 40 bolls, or 340 bushels per acre,
which opf rated immediately. It is now si*,
teen years fioco the application ; during
#hieb time, the field has been only three
years in grass, and yet its effects have not
ceased.
Field, No. 6.?The soil was a strong
loam incumbent upon clay, which had car*
ried five crops of grain after being ploughed'
from old gras9.
We summer-fallowed and dunged this
field ; applied lime also, which was laid on,
hot from the kiln, in the month of August,
after six ploughings were given. The
quantity applied was forty barley bolls per
acre ; which, in less than a month, occasioned
a fermentation of the soil, something
similar to what is produced by yeast upon
unbaked bread. In another respect, the
I improvement made upon this field by lime
was conspicuous. Barley could, with difficulty,
be raised before lime was used ;
whereas, afterwards, fine crops of this grain
were procured with facility. The ground
was likewise much easier ploughed and
harrowed than formerly, which is always a
sure token of an improvement being accomplished*
thin sharp^oarrf. a"great 'pSrt^f^fiC^^&St
upon a close bottom. It bad been three
years in grass, and was sown down in good
order; and, therefore, was a proper subject
for receiving lime upon the sward. There
was reason to believe that lime had been
applied by a former tenant, but this was not
certain. After harvest, we laid on from
thirty-five to forty bolls per acre, not thiuking
the soil required a heavy done. It was
partly hot, and partly effete, as generally
happens at that season of the year.
First years, oats were taken; the crop
good. Second year, drilled beans, with in.
tervals of twenty-seven inches: the ground
being twice ploughed before sowing, ond
four times horse-hoed ,* crop middling.
Third year, wheat after one ploughing,
which yielded a full average crop. Fourth
year, it was under summer-fallow; to which
12 double loads of dung per acre were giv.
en. Fifth year, in wheat; crop excellent.
Sixth year, in drilled beans, which were
managed as above. Seventh year, wheat;
crop above mediocrity. Eighth year, bar.
ley, with grass seeds, after three ploughings;
which, though the season was adverse
(1799), turnod out a decent crop. Ninth
year, under grass, which was pastured with
cattle, and not inferior to any in the country.
It may be objected, that the above is hard
cropping. This may be the case ; but we
are far from acknowledging that hard cropping
in certain cases, is inconsistent with
good farming. The expense of lime in
general is so great, that a necessity for hard
cropping may be said to be thereby created
Besides, this necessity is increased by the
general shortness of leases, which impede!
every permanent improvement; and in the
usage of brae, calls for the utmost exertior
of the tenant, that he may be reimbursed hii
extraordinary outlay and trouble.
Field, No. 8.?The soil was chiefly
loam, though of different varieties, and
mostly incumbent upon a close bottom.
This field, which consisted of fifty acres
had been cropped for time immemorial;
and, when we entered to tho farm, wassc
tired with carrying wheat, that is was scarce,
ly worth the ploughing. It was therefore
laid down to grass with all convenien
ennart in this etntn it remained five vears
^Vtvil III *???V 9?W?V WW -w?i? _ ^
when it was broken up again ; thirty aciei
having been limed upon the sward, at the
rate of forty barley bolls per acre. Some o
the lime was laid on three years before
ploughing, some of it two years, and the re.
mainder a few days before the ploughs entered.
Part of it was hot, part of it effettt j
but the effects over the whole field, even in
tho first year, were nearly the same; i!
there was any difference, the ridges last
limed fermented most, but the crop was equally
bulky wherever the lime had been applied
; though, upon the twenty acres unlimed,
the inferiority was evident. From
this it appears, that it was not necessary to
apply lime to gras9 land one or two years
before it was broken up, as inculcated by
several writers upon husbandry ; a practice,
at any rate, not reconcileable with economy,
as much of the lime is washed off the surface,
and carried away by rain before the
ground is ploughed.
Field, No. 9*?The soil was chiefly thin
clay, incumbent upon a bottom of till; consequently,
subject to receive injury from
wetness. This field had been severely
scourged by the preceding tenant; had been
injudiciously straightened, which is a fatal
measure to such soils ; had beeu limed pre.
vious to the straightening; but, at our entry,
was wholly under crop, and in an exhausted
state.
After being summer.fallowed, in as perfect
a way ns circumstances permitted, this
field was laid down in grass, and depastured
with cattle for several years. Lime (the
greatest part of which was in an effete stateJ
was applied upon the sward during the winter
months ; and, in February following the
field was ploughed for oats. Tne crop was
middling good ; but, in the six subsequent
years, it did not uppear that much benefit
was gained from the application. In the
eighth year, however,the lime acted vigor,
ously ; a small part of the field which remained
unlimed being at least 50 per cent.
inferior in crop, though the management,
in every other respect, had been similar.
It is difficult to account for this cessation
of action during so long a period, though it
is believed instances of the like nature are
not unfrequent upon secondary soils. Whoth.
er a deeper ploughing had been given it
the preceding season which might bring
the lime to the surface ; or whether the
original poverty of the soil poinded tht
lirfls from operating, till it woe fitted by t
copious application of dun& are circuit),
stances not easily ascertained. In ouropin
ion, the lime wps brought into action by th<
dung bestowed; though it would be rash t<
state, as a matter of fact, what, at best, is
only a probable conjecture.
Field, No. 10?-The soil was of various'
qualities. Part of it a thin loam, part of a>
sandy nature, and the remainder approach*
ing to a thin clay; but all upon a bottom re.
tentive of moisture. After pasturing the
field for one year, we applied Ume upon the
sward, at the rate of 40 Linlithgow barley
bolls, of240 bushels per Scots acre. The
lime was partly hot; but the greatest part of
it was effete, which must necessarily be the
case when lime is hutted, unless the huts are
completely covered No difference, how.
ever, was discovered in the operation, from
the state in which the article was applied.
First year?The crop was oats. The
season being excessively dry, little benefit
was got from the lime.
Second year?We fallowed the held
completely, and dressed it with dung, at the
' perScots acre.
Third year?We sowed barley god grass
seels. The crop ofbarley was very-good.
Fourth year?-The field was depastured
with cattle.
Fifth year?It was ploughed for pats,
Crop excellent.
Sixth year?We drilled the field with
pease and beans, after two ploughings, which
were managed as already described ; the
crop was of great bulk, and produced fully
nine bolls per acre.
Seventh year?Wheat was sown, and thp
crop was excellent.
Field, No. II.?The soil was of an in?
ferior kind of loam, upon a close bottom.
The year when this field was lost under
summer.fallow, we applied lime to a part
of it, by way of trial. Dune was given
likewise. We sowed barley ana grass seeds.
We took a crop of hay, and ploughed for
oats. Every one of these crops was strikingly
superior, where lime had been given \
indeed, the superiority was recognizable at
a considerable distance.
Field, No. 12.?-The soil was chiefly p
heavy deep loam ; some of it a strong,
tenacious red clay, but almost wholly
cumbent upon a close bottom.
We ploughed this field from old grass,
and sowed it with oats. It was summer*
fallowed in the second year, and dressed
, with lime, which was mostly applied bof
i from the kiln ; being drawn from the cart
i in regular sized heaps of five pecks each,
I or thereby, and spread the moment it was
, slaked by rain, or atmospherical moisture.
) About two-thirds of the field received 80
i barley bolls, or 300 bushels per acre { the
i_ j? e tfn.. rtr\ L_ 11_ .J
) remumuer irum uv 10 iv urnw j^r avcc ,ami
i the operation appeared to be in direct pre*
i portion to the quantity applied ; nor wre
there any distinction discernable^ bet vial
r what was applied hot, and what was com*
| pletely effete; some of it indeed, the re*
son being remarkly wet, was nearly m a
, mortar state ; the whole answered well, and
; operated immediately.
? It was noticed, in this field, that a few
. ridges, on which the lima was spread fa %
? winday day, carried crops rather inferior to
i those of the contiguous ones: we apprehend
, that the most valuable particles of thir lime
i had been carried offhand would recommend
? that spreading should be discontinued,
f when a high wind arises.
? Much difference of opinion having pre.
, vailed, relative to the quality of the several
, limestone quarries in the neighborhood, a
; trial was raude of lime from each of them,
i upon six adjoining ridges of the above fiHd.
f 'I hough a difference to the eye a as visible
ia almost euery one of these samples, yet
the effect upon the gro&nd was, from all of
them precisely similar ; nor could the moct
accurate judge say which was the greatest.
The quantity applied in each case wa9 the
same ; and the operations of laying on the
lime, spreading it* and ploughing the
ground, were all carried on in an uniform
manner.
Field, No. 13.?Consisted of loam of
different varieties, upon a bottom inclined to
, wetness, and the ridges lying in a broad and
serpentine state,
i We ploughed for oats, and then took
, drilled beans, which were succeeded by
, wheat. The first and last crops suffered
much from the grub. We fallowed the
, field in the fourth year, cleaving io differ*
| cnt breadths, and cross ploughing the ridges,
alternately, till the surface was completely
, levelled ; then formed the ground into eigh*
; teen feet ridges, applied twelve doable curt
loads of dung, about one ton each, and fifty
barley bolls of lime, to the Scots acre.
i The lime was laid on hot from the kiln,
and spread as fast as it was pulverized.
This quantity was found rather too much
I for the softest part of tho field, which, after
all, is a circumstance that rarely happens;
i but on the remainder the fermentation W43
1 not greater than necessary; and from this
> part of the field, the best crops have been
J procured, though the ridges were both high,
i er and broader, and required more level lings
, than tho other.
We may now draw a few plain and prac.
ir?^t infhronr.ua fwm what IS stated.
'MIWIVMWS IIWIII ? .w
, 1st, That lime operates equally well,
whether applied in a hot or efit state pro.
i vided the condition of the ground Upon
! which it ig used, be sqch as to render a
) calcareous appticatifoh beneficial.
Sdly, That in respect of operation, it if
j immaterial whether the lime be u#ed upon
; grass ladd or summer.fallow, and that ob.
j jects of conveniency ought chiefly to weigh
j with the farmer in ascertaining the most
t prope?t|me for applying this article. Upon
. old grass land, i* 13 pefhans best to plough
. first, and to summer-fallow in the second
9 year, when lime can be epgli^d. On n?sy
5 clean gfa9s land, hesitation if toff