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Lime holds more water than sand, though less than clay, and, asstanding in a medium betwixt the two, might assist as a correct-ive, if used in a moderate quantity. A mixture of lime may thusbe incorporated with the clay intended to mend the consistence ofa sandy soil, and this mixture would mingle more intimately withsand, and prove an excellent corrective. Clay or stone marl,spread on the surface, would have a similar effect. Even a mo-derate dressing of shell marl would be highly beneficial for thispurpose.
The fault of the other species of porous soils proceeds eitherfrom their containing an excess of the orange oxid of iron, orfrom their being principally formed of the earth of decayed mus-ci, as has been shown in Sect I. In Sect. III. the applicationof quick lime is prescribed as a remedy for the disease occasionedby excess of the oxid ; and burnt clay, which is recommendedas a corrective of cohesive soils, from its disposition of lying al-ways compact, is no less proper for counteracting the flatulencyof porous soils. Its effects, wherever it is applied, and especiallyon mossy soils, is really surprising, and highly deserving publicattention. But there is frequently found, on or near the sur-face, a dense earth, which, from its red colour, shows that it isstrongly impregnated with the red oxid of iron, which is a goodnatural corrective. Where this can be had, a thick coat of it,spread and left to moulder on the surface of these porous soils,will prove a great and durable improvement.
Besides that of being an ingredient in the soil, proper to im-prove its consistence, other properties have been attributed tocalcareous earth, both in a quick and efftte state, for which itmay be sufficient to refer the reader to what is said on that sub-ject, Sect . III., till such time as the properties of this earth as apromoter of fertility be better known. It shall only be added,that wherever the practice is, to have arable land alternately ingrass and tillage crops, it will generally be most advantageousto spread the lime in powder on the surface -, especially if it beallowed to lie, for at least one season, in that state; and thatwhere its quality, as quick lime, is not absolutely necessary, itwill be more advantageous to have it mixed up with some kind ofmould, than applied alone, making the mould of an oppositeconsistence to the soil on which it is laid.
The other great object of applying manure to the soil is, asabove stated, that of storing it with food sufficient for the nou-rishment of the vegetables to be cultivated upon it: and this, ithas been observed, is derived from decayed organized bodies-Home of these are possessed of peculiarities, on which various re-marks have been made, in the preceding Section, by which somej udgment may be formed of the proper mode cf using them formanure. But Farm Dung, the most important article, may stillrequire some farther consideration. In the last Section, a numberof aphorisms were submitted to the examination of the public-