Lime, Lime-compost And Its Uses

The Inm Farmer Gazette, speaking from a country where modes of aiding fertility are carefully tried and made available, has the following upon lime and its uses : Lime, when applied to the soil acts in a two-fold marnier. It acts physically by altering the mechanical condition of the soil, imparting friability to stiff soils and iirniness to loose soils. It acts chcmically by decomposing acid compounds existing in the soil, and in this manner it forms new and wholesoine compounds out of others which were injuriousto vegetation. It exercises a powerful influence upon inert organic matter , brings it into a state of active decomposition, and thus renders it fit for the support of other and more valuable forms of vegetation than it could have sustained in its natural state. Lime also acts on a variety of other substances, and sets them free to perform their office as part of the food of plants. It also forms a considerable proportion of the inorganic matter of many plants, so that it feeds them both directly and indirectly. An important mode of applying lime is in the form of a compost, with earth to vegetable matter. In forming a heap of this kind, first lay down a layer of earth, etc., fully a foot thick ; then spread on this bed a layer of quicklime, at the rate of two busels - that is half a barrel - to the cubic yard of stuff. A layer of stuff is next luid down over the lime, and lime over it, and so on, until three or four layers of stuff and of lime have been laid, the upper layer of all being one of lime, slightly oovered with earth. "We have ocrasionally sprinkled a little coarse salt amongst each layer of stuff, and have had reason to beliove that the addition was of service. The heap should remain untouched for three or four weeks, after which it should be turned over, beginning at one end, and carefully mizing the lime and soil togetber. Il' any part of the heap appeara poor, a shovelful or two of Urne may be thrown in at tbatspot. Another interval must elapso before the heap is again touchcd, and, when it is to be turned the second time, the operation should commence at the opposite end to that whero it was begun at the first turning. This eocond turning will incorpoi ate tho materials, and, after a short time, the compost may be put on the land ; at tho sanie time, tho longer it can remain, it will be all the botter. We havo had compost heaps'lyingnuarly twelvemonths beforo tha materials wero spread upon the land. Iu preparing a compost, the nature of tho lande to which it is to be applied should be taken into account, so as to effect that intermixture of soils which is frequently productivo of much advantage. A compost should not be formed of quickliine and decomposed or fermentiug farm-yard dung, because the ijuicklime expels the ammonia from manuro which is in a state of fermentation. Tbe quantity of lime that may be applied at a time varios with tho nature of tho soil; heavy clay soil requiring the largest quantity. Usually the quantity iipplied ranges from twenty to fifty barrels to the acre ; but a less quantity will do.