Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-09-24
LIME.

LINE.
Lime, as used in agriculture, is obtained
either from limeslones, oyster shells, Indian
shell banks, or mari. In all of these differ
ent substances i. exists natually in the state
carbonate. The limestone subjected in kIlns
properly prepared to degree of heat suffI-
Glen, 10 expel the carbonic acid, becomes
quick lime, (oxyde of calcium,) and its me-
chanical condition from hard compact
mass into very fine powder. On exposure
to the atmosphere, i, absorbs from it carbon
ic acid, and returns into the same chemical
condition as it existed in the limestone, lis
physical character remaining the same
when first burnt, that is, it still exists in
finely dived state, fit to be equally dis!ribu-
ted over the land On the addition of wa
ter TO quick lime, heat is evolved, and not
mere mixture, but a chemical union takes
place between the water and the lime, and
hydrate Of lime is formed-or iT common
language, 1t becomes aoaterslacked. This
compound contains of lime above rs per
cent, while air Stacked lime contains but Sc
and nearly one-,hrd per cent. The lime
obtained from oyster shells is reduced 10
powder in the same manner az stone lime,
and is, in every respect, identical with it, as
far as the lime is concerned. lcon,ains, how
ever, another subslance-phosphal Of lime
i. e., lime associated with phosPoric acid,
the same thing which gives bones their pc
culiar value. This forms from one and a
half to two and three quarters per cent in
oyster shells. So ,ta, in them, we have all
the properties Of lime, with those of bone
dus, in that quantity superadded. Oyster
aI1e Il oc
nesia, but not enough to influence their ag-
ricullural value. We obtain lime from oys-
ter shells, purer than common limestone.
MARSH MUD
! Is also a valuable manure. That at the
heads of creeks and ravines has been used
with general benefit, second only TO stable
manure. The large marshes on many Of the
rivers on the Eastern Shore are invaluable.
and at the same time exhaus.less souces Of
fertility. ! have examined the "mud" from
many Of them, and have always found it
competent to furnish in quantities, many Of
the necessary constituents. Many speci-
mems are easily burnt, which affnrds great
facility and saving of labor in i,s application.
This mud should be dug up and put in
heaps, and al any suitable time should be
burnt, and the ashes Immediately applied
to the land. When it will not burn i, should
be made into compost with quick, or wa
ter sIaked lime, and applied 10 the soil.
This mud is very rich in all the neces-
sary constituents of soils, as may be seen
from the following anaIysis:
| Marsh mud from Chickamac omico river
in Dorchester county.
Specimens being dried, was composed of:
Vegetable matter, 9OSO
| Sand, 74O
Clay and iron as per oxide, go
| Lime Cox. calc.,) 65
Phosphoric acid, IS
Msgnesia, l3
| Potash and soda, IL
Sulphuric acid and Chlorine, "a tracey
Specimens examined from the marshes
of Transqueken and Black water in Dorches-
ter, from the Nan,icoke and Pocomoke e, from
the Wicomico and Monte, in Somerset, and
the Choplank in Caroline county, all proved
to be valuable as manures. 1t exists in very
great abundance, particularly in Caroline,
Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester coun-
ties. On the borders Of the rivers, the marsh
sometimes presents an unbroken level sur
face as far the eye can reach, affording
rich pasture for large herds of cattle. II is
composed mainly of vegetable matter, in
every state OF decay. lis texture is so very
soft and Yielding, ,ha, in many places pole
may be ,hrus. down 10 the dept of ten or
twelve feet, w,hou, meeting with any ob-
structlon, and can be shaken bv the weight
of man for many yards around. This is
peculiar TO the marshes on the fresh water
streams. On the heads Of salt water creeks,
it is much more firm having much less
proportion of organic matter, and always a
large per centsge Of soda. This marsh
should never be hauled in its wet state, asa
large amount Of labor is incurred without
any profit. Itshould always be burnt when
it is susceptible of combustion, and when
this is not the case, it should be mixed in
composts with water slsked or quick lime.
Blu! The farmer, if he cannot mix it with
lime, should not fail to use it by itself.-
When applied alone, it will be found q vau-
able application to all the soil to which it
is contiguous. The only objection to it's
use in its native state is, that j. is liable, from
the large quantity Of organic matter which
it contains, to produce sorrel. This will
not happen when the vegetable or organic
matter is destroyed by fire, or decomposed
by quick or water slaked lime.
The next substance which we shall men,
ton as manure, is one used from the ear
liest ages to the present day, with various
degrees Of success.
lis cos, TO the farmer, the immense guam
,ty, and the generality of lis application,
its great value when properly applied, the
loss of labor, time and money, when imp.o-
pnrly uSe1 all SiropU reaSnns wh
nature, the difference Of its difieren. varc-
ties, and the best mode of its application,
should be we'll known,