This field had lain, for a great many years, in grass, and displayed no signs of having been previously limed. \Ve applied the lime upon the grass surface, when it was effete, and ploughed fat' oats : the crop good. The lime (lid not conic into full action till the third year, when pease were sown ; and, for a number of years afterwards, the different etops taken w en not inferior to those of the best in field.
Field, No. soil was chiefly a soft loam upon a wet bottom; which, at any rate, had not been limed since the ridges were and straightened.
We summer-fallowed this field, alter a crop of wheat, and (lunged 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 240 bushels per acre, which operated immediately. It is now sixteen years since the application ; during which time, the fit Id 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 carried five crops of grain after being ploughed from old grass.
We summer-fahowed anti (lunged 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 unbakcn bread. In one respect, the improve ment made upon this held by lime was conspicuous. Barley could, with difficulty, he 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.
Field, No. 7.—The soil was generally a thin sharp loam, a great part of it incumbent upon a close bottom. It had been three years in grass, and was sown down in good order ; and, therefore, was a proper subject for receiving lime upon the sward. The re was reason to believe that lime had been applied by a former tenant, hut this was not certain. After harvi st, we laid on from thirty-five to forty bulls per acre, not thinking the soil required a heavy dose. It was partly hot, and partly effete, as generally happens at that season of the year.
First year, oats were taken ; the crop good. Second year, drilled beans, with intervals of twenty-seven in ches; the ground being twice ploughed before sowing, and four times horse-hoed ; crop middling. Third
year, wheat after one ploughing, which yielded a full average crop. Fourth year, it was under summer-fal low; to which 12 double loads of dung per acre were given. Fifth year, in wheat ; crop excellent. Sixth year, in drilled beans, which were managed as above. Seventh vc ar, wheat ; crop above mediocrity. Eighth year, barley, with grass seeds, after three ploughings ; which, though the season was adverse (1799), 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 laird cropping. This niay be the case ; but we are far from acknowledg ing 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 he thereby created. Besides, this necessity is increased by the general shortness of leases, which im pedes every permanent improvement ; and, in the usage of lime calls for the utmost exertion of the tenant, that he may be reimbursed his extraordinary outlay and trouble.
ridd, soil was chiefly loam, diougi. 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 the num, was so tired with carrying wheat, that is war. scarcely worth the ploughing. It was therefore laid down to grass with all con. enient speed. In this state it remained flee years, when it was broken up again ; thirty acres having been limed upon the sward, at the rate of furry barley bolls per acre. Some 01 the hint was laid on three years before ploughing, some of it two years, and the remainder a few days before the ploughs entered. Part of it was hot, part of it vil ; but the effects over the whole field, even in the first, year, were nearly the same; if there was any difference, the ridges last limed fermented most, but the crop was equally bulky where en the lime had been applied; though, upon the twenty acres unlimed, the inferiority was evident. Front this it. appears, that it was not ne cessary to apply lime to grass land one or two years be fore it was broken up, as inculcated by several writers upon husbandry ; a practice, at any rate, not reconcilea ble with economy, as much of the lime is washed off the surface, and carried away by rain before the ground is ploughed.