The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-11-01
From the American Farmer.
PRIZE ESSAY ON TIE RENOVA-
TION OF WORKOUT LANDS.
BY EDWARD STABLER.
Of Saady Spring, Montgomery County,
Marylamd.

OfSandy Spring, Montgomery County,
Marylamd.
CONTINUED.
Lime.-This, next to the proper drain
ing (when necessary: for even lime will not
enable us to dispense with iD and deep TIL
Iaec, consider the most certain and perma-
neut agent in ''renovatIng wornout la Ids"
of anv other substance with which am ac-
uuaiDted, whether mineral, animal, or veg.
ctable; and when It can be Obtained al
reasonable cost, even with some miles, haul
ing in addition, It is generally to bc prefer
red, il only one kind of bought manure" is
10 be used. 1t may however be used freely
in conjunction with all other manures. and
with decided advantage, if done with Judge
ment.
After many years, experience IN the use
of lime, ] would advise in all cases where ii
could he accomplished, to spread ii on The
surface from 10 3or 4 years, before the
land is broken up. The effect Of single
winters fpsts aud rains, will more eHeclu-
ally dissolve and bring it into action, and
benefit The succeeding crop, as aso the land
y
ploughlng it in as soon as 1t is applied. In
This wav also, much larger quantity may
he safely applied TO the same land at SIM
gle dressing. As there is no loss I" lime
from atmospheric influence. it should be
kept near the surface: and the proper guam
,i,v to use to the best advantage can Only be
determined by the price, and the state the
Ian may be in. at the time. With good
sod of grass roots to receive it. 100 or even
$50 bushels to the acre, piN do no harm;
but on stiff cIays, with little soil or mould on
the surface, SO bushels would be very lib
cral application as first dressing. if put on
Immediately after ploughinI. !, would be
better to apply less quantity at first, and
renew it as soon as an increased growth OF
vegetation could be obtained.
\ When lime is applied in very large guam
titles, and Immediately Incorporated with
poor soil. having little or no vegetable mat
fier in it, the effect is to combine with the 81
icious particles. aboundiug more or less i'll
:a clay soils, and form hard compact mas
,scs. that are not separated by years of after
t.llase. This mode therefore 10 say the least,
is like "burying the talent;" for so much cap
ita lies dormant. and neither benefits the far.
mcr urhisland. twenty-five or thirty bnsl'-
els as q first application, particularly if aided
by even light dressing of vegetable manure
will make much quicker return for the out
lay.
AS to the n,odus opcrmndi of lmc much
has been written; and various, it not cnnilIc
ting theories put forth; nor do all agree
as to the most judicious mode of appca-
lion.
consider it altogether unnecessary here,
to attempt any explanation OF the chemical
changes produced in tho soil by its use, or
TO give my own opinion on,hc subject, though
formed after careful observation and from
years, experience. To the inexperienced
however, il is of much more Importance to be
informed hop to use tito the best advantage.
And as previously remarked, il is OF still less
consequence ,ho,o, or ctcn.applIed, so THAT
IT Is DONE.
Lime will act very bcncfc'ally, as know
from experience, on stiff tenacious cIays, and
so near state Of stcrility, as scarcely to re-
produce the seed sown on them. But II
used under such circumstances, and without
the aid of any kind Of manure, considerable
aime must clapse before much amcIloratIon ol
ahe soil need be expected.
Theory without practice, does not often
carry much weight with it; and on the mind
with less force perhaps than wihot the lar
mer, generally speaking j, acts most other
classes in the community; for unless an array
of facts, or good evidence, is adduccd ro IN
spire confidence, he is slowto change; the
more so, when he knows that even partial
future in a single crop, from experimenting
will he scnsb;y felt in his slender income
and perhaps for new year 10 come. Thr
feeling, TO a certain extcn, at least. Is all rgh
and proper: for experiments, to test any nc"
theory, are best undertaken ON ln't''
scale: time may be lost thereby. but none,
uay be saued in the end,
will how briefly give some account 4"
the practical operation of my theory. M!
first application of lime to any extent, wa
200 bushels, mostly air Stacked, hauled
miles, and applied 10 acres; Just broken VI
for a crop, and narrowed 10. This por'Io,'
of the field particularly, was so thorough.
exhausted by previous bad management
ahat the vie of corn was Only some or