The true Democrat., 1857-03-24
From the London Sunday Times. The Use of Lime in Agriculture.

At recent meeting of the Hexham Club, MT. R. E. Ridley read paper on this subject, from which we make the following extract:-- Lime differs from most other manures-it may almost he said from all--in this respect that it Is advantageous in agriculture as mechanical agent as well as chemical one. It not only supplies food to the plants directly and indirect- ly by Its Influence upon the other constituents of the soil, but it is of great advantage in ren- derlng clay soils opener and lighter, and in making sandy porous sorts more compact and firm. It Is well known that hot lime has a great affinity for water. It will gradually ab- sorb the moisture from the atmosphere, swell greatly in bulk, and fall to fine powder. Now when hot lime is ploughed into the land, and allowed to burst there it will exert powerful disintegrating effect upon the soil. Its opera ton wilt be something like the action of frost, which we know thoroughly opens and lightens the soil, with this difference that the particles of lime becoming mixed with the soil prevent 1t from becoming trampled into so close and hard state as it would otherwise be- When, therefore, lime is applied with a view princt- palIy of Tightening the land, it is essential that It be applied. hot as possible. In fact, it should be poughed in as it Is carted from the kiln. None of 1t should be overnight exposed to the dews, otherwise you might expect il o be powder in the morning, and its utility for the purpose you desire. greatly injured.
 When lime is used on light soils, with the object of increasing the ,enacitv and solidity of such soils 1t IS better that it should be in the state Of ny drate-thati iS be completely burst or fallen by its union with water, before 1t is ploughed in. But water Shouli be thrown on to It as soon as pt s>lOle, or If it Is allowed to fall from the ab>orption of moisture from tile atmosphere, it should be put into large hcalts and well covered, and not be spread upon tie surface of the field several days before it Is rloughed in, otherwise it gralualiy combines with the cnbouic acid of the atmosphere and becomes mli h this state it IS he same As chalk, and Will not answer the purpose for which It iS intended. The reason k, that htt lime ulites chemically with sand, and forms a sIlcate ot lme, and, hy this means, the sandy particles are cemented tng .ther to certain ex- tent; but 1T the lime be mild, or if chalk be nsed, unless It be applied Ill very great quatl- tty. there Is no Consistency produced, the par ucles of chalk will not adh re to the ,ard, nor to each other, and the land IS as friahle and open Is be fore. To obtain, therefore. the best mechanical benefits from hme, It ought to ue applied hot, u stacked, to strong aud, and sIackeh, but still hot to light soils But per- halS the most important use of lime in agri- cuI ure Is It's chemIca effect. l. destroys mauv injurious sub>ta C., that, from time to time, ate generated i'll the soil.
 DHrlng the progress of vegetation there are constantly being iorm"G various vegetable acids that are more or less injarcus to vegetatiou.-- -- Lime, when brought in contact with these ia- JurlouH matters, to Use a common phrase kills them, that is, it chemically combines with them, and renders them harmless It does so much more quickly when used hot, but will ultimately effect the same purpose when coll though much more slowly.
 Grass land in the state just des cribed is said to be sour, and 1t is well known that if il is ploughed up and thoroughly lined 1t will be for a time cured The same process goes on in arabe land, though its effects may not be 70 well known or so easily re,o5uised, and thereis no doubt but that in lands deficient in lime, great injury to vegetation Is thus caused- -- Whenever we form compost heaps from the cleansing of ditches, or the cuttings from road or hedge sides, we invariably mix hot lime with these ingredients. And wisely, because it IS a powerful promoter of vegetable decomposition.