Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-10-08
AGRICU LT URAL.
MODE OF APPLICATION OF LINE.

MODE OF APPLICATION OF LIME.
This is subject upon which there is much diff.
ference of opinion among practical men,
The greatest good is obtained from lime when
thoroughly mixed and incorporated with the soil
This is proven by the fact, that when lime exists
naturally IN soil, other things being equal, lar
ger crop is produced than when the same quanti-
~ IS applied artihcially. This superior produce
IS obviously due to the more intimate mixture in
the former, than in the latter In the appli-
cation OF lime, then, the first consideration should
be so to to mix it ultimately with the SOIL
ANS IS sought to be done in three ways list. BY
applying it to the surface, and suffering it to re-
main undisturbed for year or two ;-2nd. BY ap-
plying it to the surface, ploughmg it under i'm
mediately, and working the land in some crop =
Bird. By mixing it in compost beds, and apply
ing it in the same manner. Each ofthese methods
has its peculiar advantages, and is also liable to
objections The feature of the soil is to be taken
into consideration. By the first method, the lime
becomes very thoroughly mixed with the soil, par
tcularly if it be loose sandy soil. as the rain wa
Ger washes down its particles, and fixes them be-
tween the grains of sand. But when lime or any
other manure is purchased. an immediate return
Is desired which cannot be had If this plan be fol-
lowed. Many Of our farmers, too, having but lit
tie ready money, cannot afford to spend it without
getting speedy remuneration for its use. By the
second method, the lime is thrown to the bottom
of the furrow, and cannot be afterwards we'll in
corporated with the soil, which is great obiec-
ton, the benefit from its use, to the fullest ex-
tent is not speedily obtained. The third method
has the advantage of diffusing the lime very equal
~ the surface, and nsuring its mixture after
wards /; but it involves great labor in hauling and
applying it, and but small quantity can be applied
at time in this manner. The best mode of com
bining the advantages of these several methods, is
first to fallow up the ground, which leaves it I'M
even, with numerous assures, which are produced
A. I'LL
with heavy iron tooth harrow, and cultivate in
some crop that requires frequent working-corn
for example. In this manner we mix the lime well
with the soil, receive its benefits Immediately in
crop, which can be more completely realised as
the corn can be followed by wheat, with which
then fulfilled. 1st. The lime IS more thoroughly
mixed with the soil. End. Return for its cost is a
crop of corn. 3rd. Increased return by crop of
wheat Immediately succeeding the corn and then
the benefit of good crop of clover, so useful, not
only as food for stock but as an improvement to
the crop which it precedes.
For the reasons above stated, this mode of ap-
plying lime is preferable to all others. BY it we
mix the lime thoroughly with the SOIL and obtain
Immediate return for its cost, consideration of
the highest Importance with farmers, who have
not the ability to lay out Of their money for sever
al successive years. but need an immediate return
Again this mode gives not only the speediest re-
ward, but gives much greater profit than any
other mode in the same number of years, which is
the ultimate end of the application Of all manures.
1t has been much mootcd question, whether
lime should be used in its caustic Stacked state.
The only condition to decide this is the quantity
of organic (vegetable,) matter in the SOIL Where
this large, in the upper districts of Caroline,
county, in the Black Gum swamp soils of Dorches-
ter, Somerset, and Worcester and indeed, IN all
newly cleared or drained lands, caustic and
even hydrate of lime (water slacked,) should be
preferred, it promotes, in very strong degree,
the decomposition of vegetable matter, which is of
40 use in soil until it is decomposedi
Until it becomes so, all Gifts inorganic matter,
its compounds of lime, potash, soda and mag
nesa, are entirely useless to the crop, being,
in reference to it, SO much inert matter What
ever can so act as to bring these inert materials
into actual use must benefit the soil independent
of it own direct use.
All vegetable matter contains these constituents,
which are essential to its very existence and when
set free, they serve as food for cultivated plants.
This is the only material advantage that caustic
lime has over that which is slaked as it all becomes
slakened after exposure to the atmosphere. Lime
should always be applied to the soil in as dry
condition possible, for when it is wet it becomes
cemented into Jumps which become very hard, and
a long time elapse before they are broken down
and mixed with the soil. While it remains in
Jumps it is of no use to the crops, and those who
apply it in this condition not only lose actually the
lime but also its effect on their crops, each mat
ter of great consideration. Magnetism lines should
hot be spread on the land until the lime in them
becomes slakened. If put on in the costic state,
water will cause the magnesia and lime to form a
cement and small balls will be formed which re-
qure long time to fall to pieces. There is a Gus
tom prevalent in some sections of the State, of
mixing caustc lime with stable and barn yard ma
nure. This cannot be too strongly reprobated. If
those who use it in this way were to try to njure
their manure as much as possible, they could not
adopt better plan. Ammonia, one of the most
valuable constituents of stable and barn yard
manure, Is expelled from the heap by caustic lime,
and escapes into the air.
This plan should therefore nercr be followed It
IS proof in its favor, that the manure after be-
ing treated in this manner, still does good, part
of its valuable constituents, fire will not destroy
but one of the things which give it its peculiar dis
tnctive value, is entirely dissipated when mixed
with either caustic lime, (oxyde of calcium,) or
water slaked lime, (hydrate of lme.) 1t is indeed
one Of the means by which chemists determine the
quantity Of ammonia in a compound, SO thorough
ly and entirely does it drive all away
Upon grass lands, when they fail to produce
well, and that failure is owing to deficiency of lime
in them, it may with great advantage, be spread
Oh the suface and have light harrow run over 1t.
This will not only insure to the crop the full
benefit OF the lime, but will materially improve the
texture of soil by loosening the surface and from
the long absence OF cultivation becomes bound, and
frequently covered with moss, and untitled to pro-
duce a good crop of hay. The full benefit of the
lime can be obtained without the trouble and ex-
pense of breaking the land from its "setting'' in
grass, and no intermission need be had in the crop
When it is intended to supply the deficiency of
lime in soil by the medium of mari, it should al
ways be applied long time possible before the
culture of the soil. Atmospheric influences, the
alienation of heat and cold and of dryness and
moisture, are all powerful agents to disintegrate
the mar reduce shells to powder, and bring it into
condition most favorable to the crop, whose pro-
duction it is intended to assist. Situated as the
great mass of our farmers are, precise and exact
rules cannot be followed. Many are obliged to
yield to circumstances, but they should keep the
above principles steadily in view, and conform to
them as nearly as possible.
They are the result IF po,,,I ,nJ .,,oc,i abr.n