Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-09
AGRICULTURAL.


York, by VIM. Partridge, Esq The
facts therein set forth, are highly import
ant. and are worthy OF being tested by
those who have limestone on their farms.
We ask for this subject, the attention OF
our readers; and Of those who have here
tofore tested. or may hereafter test, the
theory by experiment. to furnish US a
statement of the result for publication.
We shall also be much obliged to Mr.. |
Partridge for continuation Of his ia
vors.
TO THE PRECEDENT OF THE LYcEUM OF
NATURAE HISTORY.
Sir,-In a conversation had with you
on board a steamboa. on the North river,
sometime during the summer Of 1885, rel
alive to lime, as applied agriculturally,
mentioned the advantage Of using It gene
rally in ground state, as plaster is now
used, instead Of burning it. You inform
ed me subsequently, that your farmer had
applied some on your land in a state of
powder, and found it decidedly beneficial
then promised to send you my written
opinion on the subject and | now beg
leave to fulfil that promise, with an apollo
gy for delaying i so many months.
Il is well known to every intelligent az
riculturis,, that soils covering limestone
rocks are the most productive of any on
the globe know Of but one exception,
when the limestone is too highly charged
vita magnetism earth. Our country at.
foris many facts in proof Of this assertion.
shall refer to two locations as all suffi-
cisni for my purpose. The state of Ken
lucky has a bed OF limestone running un-
derneath its whole surface, and its natural
soil has been produced and is still 2roduc-
ing by the abrasion ofthose rocks.
The superior productive powers Of the
soil Of that State is well known to every
intelligent farmer in our extensive coun-
try. and is spoken Of in terms Of admira-
6ou by Europeans. That part Of Penn
sylvania extending from the Lehigh Wa
Ter Cap to Easton, is limestone country,
and affords another instance Of its highly
productive powers.
Ia England, the soil deposited in val
leys atthe foot Rhinestone hills, is equal
" productive, The valley running from
the city Of Bristol, 10 the city Of Worces-
ter, is Of this description, and there is no
soil more productive in Great Britain
There are more than twenty spurs of hills
bounding that valley each containing
large bodies Of limestone rock, and the
springs flowing from them, are so charg-
ed with limestone, as to incrust everything
lying in them. When the springs issue
from the rocks high upthe hills, hey are
much used for irrigsting the higher lands
and the beneficial effects are visible to ev.
cry observer. #
Lime, in the state of chalk, is also
used very generally on land near to the
Chalk Mountains in England. $780,
The lower part OF this State abounds 10
primitive limestone, and the preceding OBJ
servaiions were made with view to ap-
ply the facts 10 rectify a material error
committed, asI conceive, BY he farmer:
in using il on their land They burn
the limestone at considerable expense
and in that state use it for agriculture
purposes. would suggest as tar bet
ter general application, that the limestone
be merely ground, and in that state april
ed to the land As this may be new
mode Of application, l shall endeavor tc
show wherein it is preferable to the pres
ent. ...- .........s ... lad.
I have been frequently informed by far.
mers who use burnt lime on their land
that they keep il some months before us.
ing. and that then the good effects are moi
observable the first year. We have only
to ascertain what these facts prove, and
the whole mystery will be instantly solv-
ed In burning limestone two materials
essential to agricultural productiveness ale
driven off, It's water and its carbonic gas.
In its natural state il is carbonated nv
drate, when burnt tits caustic line (oxide
Of calcium,) made so by the heat driving
of iw water and carbonic gas. WHY
does the farmer delay putting il on his
land. but for the simple reason that it is
too caustic for vegetation. Why does it
require to lie in the soil one year before
producing any visible fertilizing effect
Il is for nothing more than to give il time
70 return again to a state Of carbonated
hydrate, the same condition It was in be-
4 fore burning.
~ have said that limestone merely
ground IL the best general mode OF apply
ing Il 10 agricultural purposes there are
some exceptions 10 this rule. When
soli contains "hard roots, dry fibres, or
other inert vegetable matter, strong de-
composing action will take place between
burnt lime, and the vegetable matter, rem
dering that which was before compare
lively inert, nutrItive." Where this is
the case. Il would be well for the farmer
"a uss one third burnt lime. and two thirds
Of around Limestone. OF any other proper
ton hs,may find most efica.ious. For
silf heavy soils use the limestone coarse
" powdered, for in this state, after being
y.Il .lo.,ghed and narrowed 80 a To