Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-02

excepting tno1o SOIPVSco cuut0ly Oh ue- L
cayed vegetable matter like peat. or Of pure
slick or sand. In the, most productive
soils for wheat, lime Is found in the form
Of carbonste; and the permanent value
of soil for grain crops may be in a de-
gree determined by the presence Of lime |
In Europe the analysis of the best soils
gives IS 70 80 per cent. Of carbonate of !
lime. We shall soon be favored with the |
analysis Of the soils Of our own state from
our learned geological surveyor.
Lime is not however the food Of plants
Il is not mere stimulus to the plant The
most reasonable theory is, that it causes
| the dissolution Of other substances in the
earth; and prepares them 70 become the
food Of plants, or TO yield that substance,
which constitutes theirfood. As lime il
self does not constitute the food OF plants,
this explains why lime alone. does not en-
rich poor soil !; and why, where il has
been applied in excess and without the ad-
dition Of other manures, il for time i'm
poverishes a soil.
The rules for the application of lime to
the soil, are Of more immediate importance
to the farmers than any further discussion
Of the theory Of their operation.
| Lime may be applied to soils for two OBJ.
jects. The first to make a permanent
change in the nature of the soil, as for ex-
ample, to render clayey soil less adhe-
sive, and make Il friable. In this case q
very abundant application would be requir-
ed and at the present prices of lime and
Of land would be an experiment not likely
to be undertaken by many Of our farmers.
The second object is to afford immedi-
ate aid TO vegetation. In this case, If we
had means Of reducing the limestone 10 a
fine powder without calcinaiion, il might
OF once be adyaniageously applied, and
with permanent benefit This has been
done by an intelligent observer in West
Stockbridge. He has obtained the ground
stone in the form of a fine powder from
the mills and shops for saving & planning
marble. TIE usual form in which lime is
to be applied among Us is in calcined
state, and with view to its immediate eI-
fects. In order to apply il adyantageously,
It must be either air Stacked, or Stacked
with water. Ii may be Stacked with wa
Ter in the field, and distributed immediate
/ ly while warm; or mixed with mould, In
The proportion of one bushel of lime to FIVE
Of mould, and spread in that form i'm
which latter form il is, perhaps. more like
Nv TO be equally difused. Il may be mix
ed with peat earth but in thiscase it SHOULD
be allowed considerable time for ferment..
ation, ia order to render the vegetable mat
tier Of peat soluble. and to extract from il
the proper food of plants. But il must not
be mixed with animal or putrescent ma
lnure. It's effects in such case are to de-
a stroy the animal matter, and leave only
]. The woody fibre.
Il In regard to the quantities to be applied,
. there are great diyersilies Of practice. In
England. upon soils comparatively desti-
iute ofcalcafeous matter, from 100 to 600
bushels Rave been applied; the last guam
Itity, however, with injury TO the land for
. some time. The English consider that
; 300 bushels are ordinarily proper dress
ing for an acre, andthis is applied at once /;
} very much larger quantities have been ap-
piled, but the advantages Of such copious
I lining are not always compensation for
. the expense. p.
The French, and the Germans, of late
r especially have been highly successful in
; The application of lime. The practice oil
!. the former differs from that Of English ag.
! riculture but its advantages have been
4 fully tested. They recommend the appli.
: cation Of about I2 bushels per year, snnu
: ally, for three years in succession, or AZ
4 bushels applied at tine once in five years
: This is deemed ample. In this case j!
lprobably intended IL bushels of unslackeC
: lime, the bulk of which in the form Of ,
hydrate. or Stacked with water. is NOR,
|, than double. The plants on an acre will
n not take up sixth Of this quantity bu
s much Of il is lost by gradually sinking in
o TO the soil. or goes to its permanent i'm
= provement The French method rests up
a on the highest authority Of science an
h actual experiment; & may be commend
az ed to our farmers. a{---a "a 4, 4
10 Maris which contain good propoI
or ton of lime. are Of great value in amrIic
b. rating soils; and operate In, improvin
4; soils and supplying calcareous matter
,y though not in the active and immediat
& manner in which lime operates. The
/. application, however. is considered by m,
e. 10y as preferable lime. On this snbje,
a. we want more experience. The Berkshil
ne sheil-marls, which have been recently di
ne covered. contain from go TO 90 per cent
er lime. The operation Of shell-marl, I
ler mari containing large amount Of shell
70 in state OF decomposition, is much SLOW
re. er than that Of quick-lime; but its efec
ri are quite lasting. When applied to hea,
ne soils and soils naturally cold, It enrich
IA vegetation. but does not forward it.
eat POTASH. or vegetable alkah, is stated