Field, No. 9.—The soil was chiefly thin clay, incum bent 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 straigtocned, is a fatal measure 10 such soils ; had been limed previous to the straigthen ing ; but, at our entry, was w holly und,or crop, and in an exhausted state.
After being summer-falleewed, in as perfect a way as 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 state) was applied upon the sward during the Winter months ; and, in February following, the field was ploughed for eats. The crop was middling good ; but, in the six subsequent years, it did not appear that much benefit was gained from the application. In the eighth year, however, the lime acted vigorously ; a small part of the field which remained unlimed, being at least 50 pt r CI inferior in crop, though the management, in every other respect, had been simiiar.
It is difficult to account for this cessation of action during so long a period, though it is believed that in stances of the like nature are not unfrequent upon secon dary soils. Whether a deeper ploughing had been given in the preceding season, which might bring the lime to the surface ; or whether the original poverty of the soil precluded the lime from operating, till it was assisted by a copious application of dung, are circumstances not easily ascertained. In our opinion, the lime was brought into action by the dung bestow ed; though it would be rash to 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 approaching to a thin clay ; but all upon a bot tom retentive of moisture. After pasturing the field for one year, we applied lime upon the sward, at the rate of 40 Linlithgow barley bolls, or 240 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, however, 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 the held completely, and dressed it with dung, at the rate of fourteen double loads per Scots acre.
Third year—We sowed barley and grass seeds. The crop of barley was very good.
Fourth ycar—The field was &pastured with cattle.
_Fifth year—lt was ploughed ler oats. 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 the crop was ex cellent.
Field, No. I l.—The soil was of an inferior kind of loam, upon a close bottom. The year when this field was last under summer-fallow, we applied lime to a part of it, by way of trial. Dung was given likewise. We sowed barley and 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 recognisable at a considerable dis tance.
Field, No. I2.—The soil was chiefly a heavy deep loam ; some of it a strong, tenacious red clay but almost wholly incumbent upon a close bottom.
We ploughed this field from old grass, and sowed it with oats. It was summer-lallowed in the second year, and dressed with lime, which was mostly applied hot from the kiln ; being drawn from the cart in regular sized heaps of five pecks each, or thereby, and spread the moment it was slaked by rain, or atmospherical moisture. About two-thirds of the field received 50 barley bolls, or 300 bushels per acre ; the remainder from 60 to 70 bolls per acre ; and the operation appear ed to be in direct proportion to the quantity applied ; nor was there any distinction discernible, betwixt what was applied hot, and what was completely effete ; some of it, indeed, the season being remarkably wet, was nearly in a mortar state : the whole answered well, and operated immediately.
It was noticed, in this field, that a few ridges, on which the lime was spread in a windy day, carried crops rather inferior to those of the contiguous ones : we apprehend that the most valuable particles of the lime had been carried off; and would recommend, that spreading should be discontinued, when a high winch arises.