Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-06
AGRICULTURAL.

Innuence Of Lime On the Wheat Crop.
Il is well known, that those sections of
our country which are the most product
i've of wheat, are either soils based on
limestone rocks or such as contain con-
siderable quantities of carbonate OF lime
in their composition. These facts seem
to have induced many 10 suppose, that,
no matter what may be the nature of the
soil ia other respects, if it only contains
lime, il will certainly produce wheat
There can be no doubt that this earth per-
forms mosi important part 10 the produc-
ton of grain; but the almost unqualified
nanneriin which it is sometimes spoken
OF, as the chief agent in the growth OF
wheat, has led US TO suppose there was
some danger that those farmers in whose
soils this earth was abundant, might over
look the necessity Of other manures, and
suppose their lands Of inexhaustable fer
tility, simply because they contain lime;
or that those who properly use lime as
manure, should forget that IN time, this
application would cease Gifts desired eff
feet. unless the animal and vegetable mat
tiers mon which the lime acts in furnish
ing food to plants, were also present at
the same time. Some of the Geological
Reports, particularly those OF the eastern
States, have tendency, unlntentlonaliy,
doubtless, to create or pelpetuate the er-
ror of which we are speaking. Thus,
for instance, DR.. Jackson, in his valuable
report on Maine, says
IAN imperfect or blighted produce is
sure to follow the planting of this grain
(whent) upon soils destitute of lime, while
il is we'll known, that certain districts
where the soil contains this mineral, are
ALWAYS favored with luxuriant and heavy
crops. This Is one of the settled points
in agriculture, and one which every far
mer should duly appreciate, if ne would
prosper in his art. Indian corn requires
but liue lime, and hence we see excellent
crops Of that grain, raised upon sandy
plains, unsuiteu to wheat"-RePort, p
l23.
That lime, to a certain extent, is neces
sarv to the growth of wheat, appears
clear. but lime alone is not sufticlen
n apulicatioH.. In some parts OF England
lime has been repeated on some lands til
il produces no beneficial effect. The veg
etabIe and animal matter being exhaust
ed, lime has nothing upon which to ac'
and is therefore as inert as SO mucn sane
To some extent, similar results have beel
found TO cnsue in this country. In le
ter of Col. Springer, of Delaware State
10 friend at the West, he says, in sui
stance, that the continual use OF lime
their lands, has much exhausted then
that wheat is not now grown with {
much certainty as formerly; that it blast
or does not fill, more frequently than 1t u
ed to; and that lime can be no longer r
lied on 10 ensure fertility or produ'
wheat. The truth is, the farmers of tn
section have, in all probability, relied {
lime TOO much and TOO long, and have n
aided its action by animal or vegetab
manures. as they ought. la some of 1
arguments for the use Of lime, the fact III
lime itself furnishes no nulriment to I
nlant seems to be overlooked. and rene
ed annIications of lime are expected
nrodnce wheat or other plants, when I
material from which alone they can
formed is not to be found in the soil
treated.
We imagine it may be considered a
settled point in vegetable and agrlcuitu
chemistry. that lime, gypsum, or any
the phosphates. or salts. used as manur
furnish nothing to the food Of the pla
they only stimulate the organs OF the 2l
10 more vigorous exercise, and cor
quently, TO more rapid growth, by
more extensive appropriation OF the pr
er food found already prepared 10
earth. When The relation which
wonderful force called electro-mag net
has to the circulation of the fluids
plants, is better understood. it will pro
bly, be found. that the earths OF which
principal are sand, clay and lime, w
properly combined. constitute comp
battery. in whichthe various salts diss
ed in water, excite current, active or