Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-11

bring any hard vegetable matter that it con-
tains into state gilmore rapid decomposi-
ton and solution, SO as to render it prop
or food for plants. Chalk, and mar, or
carbonate of lime, will only improve the
texture of the soil or its relation to absorp-
ton; it acts merely as one of its earthly
ingredients. Chalk has been recommended
as substance calculated to correct the
sourness of land. 1t would surely have
been wise practice to have previously as.
certained the certainty ofthis existence OF
acid, and to have determined its nature, in
order that it might be effectually removed.
The fact really is, that no soil was everyct
found to contain any notable quantity of
uncombined acid. The acctlc and car.
bonic acids are the only two that are likely
to be generated by any spontaneous decom;
position of animal or vegetable bodies, and
neither of those have any fixity when ex-
posed to the air. Chalk having no power
of acting on animal or vegetable substances
can be no otherwise serviceable to land than
as it alters its texture. Quick-lme, when
it itbecomcs mild, operates in the same manner
as chalk, but in the act of becoming mild,
it prepares soluble out Of unsolube matter.
Bouillon LA Grange says, that galetlne OK
ygenizcd becomes insoluble, and vegetable
extract becomes so from the same cause;
now lime has the property of attracting ox!y-
gen, and, consequently, of restoring the
property of solubility to those substances
which have been deprived oft, from COM
bination ofoxygen. Hence, the use OF lime
on peat lands, and on all soils containing an
excess ofvegetablc insoluble matter.-Grss-
enthuade.
Effects of lime on 'rheat crops.-When
lime is employed upon the land where
there is present any quantity of animal
matter, it occasions the evolution OF
quantity of ammonia, which may, perhaps
be imbibed by the leaves ofplants, and at.
forwards undergo some change SO as to
form gluten. 1t is upon this circumstance,
that the operation of lime in the prepara-
ton for wheat crops depends; and its efh-
cacy in ferilizing peat, and in bringing
into state Ct cultivation all soils abound
ing in hard roofs, or dry fbres, or inert
vegetable matter.
General principles for applying Hme.--
The solution of the question whether quick
lime ought to be applied to soil, depends
upon the quantity ofinert vegetable matter
that it contains. The solution Of the ques-
ton, whether mari, mild lime, or powdered
limestone ought to be applied, depends
upon the quantity Of calcarious matter al.
ready in the soil. All soils are improved
bv mild lime, and ultimately by quick-lime,
which do not etlcrvescc with acids, and
sands more than clays. When a soil, def
cicnt in calcareouS matter, contains more
! soluble vegetable manure, the application
of ouick.lmc should always be avoided, as
| it either tends to dccompose the soluble
matters bv uniting to their carbon and oxy.
Gen so as to become mild lime, or 1t COM
! bines with the soluble matters, and forms
compounds having less attraction for water
than the pure vegetable substance. The
case is the same with respect to most AMI
NAL manures, but the operation ofthe lime
is different in different cases; aud depends
upon the nature of the animal matter.
Lime forms kind of insoluble soap with
oily matters, and then gradually decom-
poses them by separating from them oxy-
zen and carbon. 1t combines likewise with
the animal acids, and probably assists their
decomposition by abstractIng carbonace-
Gus matter from them combined with oxy-
gen; and consequently y must render them
! less nutritivc. 1t tends 10 diminish, like
wise, the nutritive powers of albumen from
the same causes and always destroys, to
a certain extent, the efficacy of animal
manure, either by combining with certain
of their elements, or by giving to them new
arrangements. Lime should never be ap.
Piled with animal manures, unless they are
too rich, or for the purpose OF preventing
noxious effluvia. 1t is injurious when mix
ed with anv common dung, and tends to
render the attractive matter insoluble. Ac-
cording to Chaptal, lime forms lnsolubie
composts, with almost all animal or veGeta'
BILE substances that are soft, and thus des-
troys their Preventative properties. Such
compounds, however, exposed 10 the con.
tinued action olthe air, alters in course OF
time, the lime becomes carbonate, the AMI
NAL or vegetable matter decomposc, by de-
grces, and furnish new products as vegcta-
bic nourishment. In this view, lime pre-
seuts two great advantages for the nutri-
ton ofplants; the first, that ofdisposlng OF
certain insoluble bodies to form soluble
compounds, the second, that Of prolonging
the action and nutritivc qualities of sub
stances, beyond the term which they would
retain them ifthcy were not made TO enter