Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-09

From pretty long experience, and con-
siderable attention to the operation OF ilrne'
we are inclined to think that It acts both as
an alternative and a stimulant, operating IN
the one case as medicine, that changes
the nature Of the soil, and in the other, as
rousng, or bringing into action, the vege.
table powers contained in the SOIL when
without such au application, would have re-
NAMED dormant and inactiye.* These op'
inions, we know are different from what
have been maintained by several ingenious
men on the subject +; but they are supported
by the result ofnumerous trials, undertaken
to ascertain how, and in what manner, lime
operated upon the soil, and whether it could
be used in hot or efste state with the most
advantage. On these points, theoretical
writer's are ap. to fall into mistakes /; and
therefore every theory not formed ffom
facts, must be viewed as romance which
may amuse, but cannot instruct agricultur.
lists.
The writer of this article, for period Of
thirty years, has been in the regular habit OF
applying considerable quantities oflimo; in
deed few Of bis profession have used more
of this useful article. In the majority OF
cases, the application has been highly bene.
fetal to his interest, changing in manner
the very nature Of the SOIL and causing it
to produce the most abundant crops; where.
as in others, the article has been altogether
useless, and in some instances the applca.
ton has been followed by mischief instead
of benefit. AS most of these trials were exc.
cuted upon large scale, and upon soils OF
almost every different quality, more bene'
fit may be gathered from succinct account
ofthem than from long chain Of argument.
The trials arc fairly stated, and the results
may perhaps throw some light upon this
abstruse subject.
tits proper to promise, that good deal
of uncertainty prevails with agriculturists,
respecting the application of this article !;
and that much dispute has taken place a.
moug those who have applied it only to
one kind of soil. or have not used it under
different circumstances. Some have con.
tended, that lime ought to be applied only
when it is in a hot powdered state and
that when it becomes e6ete, the effects are
comparatively ,riAing and unavailing. OH.
ers maintain, that grass land is the best bed
,or the reception of lime, while many OF
our most enlightened farmers strenuously
affirm, that it is most judiciously used when
the land gets complete summer fallow. 1t
would not be difficult TO prove, that each
class Of dispusan.s, in the view they take 0!
the subject are oaually -" the rIgm ana
tina, they only condemn the system Of 9TH
ers, because their own has turned out to be
successful. Our opinion is, that, in every
case where the land is consti.ulionally dis.
posed to receive benefit from calcareous
dressing, that Is, when it is refreshed by
grass or enriched by dung, it is Of little i'm.
portance, in respect Of operation, whether
lime is applied hot or efete upon grass
lund, or upon fallow and that convenienes
ought chiefly to be studied, when the most
proper time for applying the article is TO be
ascertained. Inpoint ofeconomy, there can
be no doubt, but that lime is most econo-
mically used, when laid upon land hot from
the kiln this mode also lessons the expense
Of labor considerably; consequently the
practice of using it when etete, is more ex-
pensive. It is obvious, however, that a
choice Of season is not always in the far
mer's power and that imposing necessity
often obliges him to lay on lime when COM
pletely efete. Repeated trials, however,
have convinced Us, that its operations are
equally beneficial in the one state as in the
other though the expense in tho last case,
as already said, is greater than in the for.
mer. With regard to the other branch OF
dispute, whether land in grass, or land in
fallow, is the most proper bed for the re-.
ception Of lime, we are Of opinion, tha: the
difference is immaterial. II grass land is
clean, and if lime can be got forward at the
time, the application will be as efficacious
upon it, as upon the richest and best wrought
summer.fallow.
That these things are not matter Of op-
inion, we mean to show, by detailing the
results of the trials made to ascertain the
facts. To render these details more per.
feet, we shall mention the nature Of the sur:
face and subsoil upon which the several
trials were made, and explain the state OF
the ground at the time and, when necess
sary, the management pracised for series
Of years afterwards.
Field. No. l. was soil chiefly composed
Of thin clay, some oft approaching to o
moorish quality, e. mixed with peat EARN {;
the whc:e incumbent upon subso'' reten
tive o. moisture.
This field had been in grass for several
years, but yielded very poor returns IL
was fallowed without taking any corn crop {;
and the lime which was brought forward
during the summer months. was applied IN