Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/120

102] LIM (Sxpeiinients, in which their reppec- tive properties were clearly ascer- tained. The barren, or magnesian lime, is found in various parts of Eng- land, but especially in the county of Nottingham, where a quarry of it is worked to the extent of 30 or 40 miles ; also in the counties of Derby and Northumberland, in the latter of which it is known by the chara6leristic name of hot, in icontradistinftion to the viild, or cakareoas lime, that abounds in all parts of Britain, ^^'e regret that we cannot enter into a detail respecting Mr. Tenn ant's impor- tant discovery ; the particulars of which are recorded in the volume above mentioned. — The magnesian Jime may be farther distinguished from that made of pure calcareous stone, by its slow and difficult so- lution in acids. The hardness or softness of lime^ ptone, however, is of no impor- tance, provided it be pure, that is, free from sand, clay, or other sub- stances, which render the mass less fertilizing.-r— When the stone is dug out of tl.e earth, . it should be con- veyed to a kiln, into which coals or turf must be put in alternate layers with the lime-stone, and the latter thoroughly calcined. ^ — With respeft to the length of time the rnaterials should be exposed to thg iire, it has been found by experi- inent, that lime burnt in four hours, has a much greater disposition to recover its fixed air from the at- rnpsphere, than that which has ^een buining for tl;e space of tu-cntyfour hours ; and, as the cxceUence of this manure is sup- posed to depen,'. on its re-atlraclion pf fixed an-, the process of cair cination pught to be regulated ac- pprclingly, - ' ■ LIM In this state, it is called quick- lime, and should be spread as speedily as possible, immediately before the plough } so that the greater part may be slacked in the soii. The proportion used, depends much on the custom of tiie coun- try ; but should more properly be adapted to the nature of the land. In the county of York, thirty-six bushels only are carted on an acre; in Wales, a quantity somewhat larger ; in Ireland, from^Ve to iix hu?idre(l bushels are spread on every English statute acre; and in various parts of England, very small por- tions are injudiciously scattered : for it is the opinion of the most ex- perienced agriculturists, that three or four hundred busliels at the least (if the price be not too high) should be allowed to each acre; especially when the soil has long been in an uncultivated state. One good liming is, in such cases, de- cidedly preferable to small quan-f titles frequently repeated. In common situations, however, where the land does not abound in putrescible matters, and is not vi- tiated by acids, Mr. YouxG is of opinion, that lOO bushels per acre, will produce a considerable etfeft ; but, on stiff stroi'g clays, he thinks at least double, or triple, that quan- tity ought to be allowed. If lime be applied without any other manure, it is said to exhaust the most fertile particles of the soil. Some agriculturists, thercr fore, su;igest the propriety of forni'^ ing small heaps, and covering therrj with earth : as soon as the soil has, by its moisture, slacked the liirie, the heaps are to be opened, and as mucij dung buried in each as the earth v ill cover. A more econo- mical and judicious method, is that stated by Mr. Andhews^ in the