Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-05-13
From the Farmer aud Gardener.
LIME AS a MAN URE,

I
LIME AS a MAN URE,
The efficacy VI this mineral us q ma
nure, is beginning 10 excite very general
alto ntion. The success which has uni.
torrnIy attended It's application to almost
all kinds ofsoils, eXtorIs confessions its
utility from many who, until recently, had
but little, lfany faith in lis meIiorating
powers. As there seems 10 a universal
desire TO obtain information upon the sub
ject Of its specific uirtueO, we will endeav-
or TO give something like an abstract
view Of them, and we know not how we
can better effect our object, than by avail
ing ourself of a consideration Of the Iumi
nous paper upon the subject, submitted
by MIR. Browne Of Derby, England, Whit h
may he found in the transactions of the
society Of arts. lie asserts:
lst. That recent vegetables, as clover,
laid on heaps and sIratified with fresh lime
are quickly decompoSed, even in few
days. The heat occusioned by the mois-
ture of lhe vegetables uniting with tho
lime, he suppOses, qurckens the fermenla
tiOn Of the vegetable juices, and produce
charcoal in consequence Of combustion
similar TO that frequently produced in new
hay stacks, which if any air be admitted
burst into flame.
I'd. Lime for many months continues
to attract moisture flom the air or earth,
which It deprives, as he suppOseS, Of car.
bonic acid, and then suffers it to euhals
gain, as is seen on the plastered walls Of
new houses. Ga this account it must be
advantageous wken as'red sOah dry or san
dy SOiIs, as it attracts moisture from
the air above, or the earth beneath; and
this moisture is then absorbed by the lynn
phatiCs Of the roots Of vegetables.
Sd. BY mixing Inns with cIays it is be
lieved to make them less cohesive; and
thus to admit Of their being easily pene
trated by vegetable 6bres.
4th. A mixture of lime with clay de.
stroys its superabundance Of acid, il such
exists, and by uaiting with it converts it
into gypsum.
9Th. Whea lime is mixed with a com.
post ofsoil and manure, which is IN the
state of generating ni:roas acid, it ar
rests the acid as it forms, and produces
a calcareous inter, and thHs prevents
both its exhalation and its easy eIutr ia
ton.
And laSty, fresh lime destroys worms
snails, and other insects, with %hich It
happens to come in contact, and with
which almost every SOIL abounds.
These are amorg the chemical effects
Of lime, and lis practical operation, ard
beneficial results, 10 tho increase Of the
quantities Of the products Of The earth,
are equally as astonishing as they are sAl
utary. Lands which for years have yiel
ded IRON 6 TO 10 Bushels Of wheat, have,
by the application of lime, the p!oughing
in Of single crop Of clover, and a proper
observance of the rotation system, been
SO far meiorated as TO yield lroaa 20 to
30 bushels of good heavy wheat to the
acre. With such facts before the eyes
OF landhotders, within the reach OF lime,
we would ask, IS there any apology for
their permitting their soil to remain lon
ger impoverished? We broadly affirm
that lhere Is nOne-and we 90 further
aad say, that those who reside within an
accessible distance in the mari districts
Of tide water, will be gdiIty Of culcabIe
negligence, il they longer omit to make a
liberal application Of it, Shell lime can
be delivered on any estate lying on nav
igable river or creek, not mole than 10
miles from the place of procurement, for
8 cents busheI; aud should any man
begrudgo such an outlay, when it is sure
TO bring him back two and three hun
drod per cent! We answer, certainly
not,