The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-09-28

From the Columbian & Great West.]a .
RATIONAL OF LINES UTILITY.
BY l.. L.

In a previous article on the essentialityl
of Lime as q agent for the promotion of
vegetation, | advanced the idea which III
have since seen ~corroborated and sustain
ed; that barren or unproductive soil is de-
pendent more upon the want Of the Aka
lies, than Humis, or organic remains. In
this article | seek to show to the readers OF
your valuable paper, the rational, or phi
losophy of the use of Lime, so that every
farmer may see this unrivaled fertiIizing
agent is the one upon which he and his
children must place their chief reliance.
l.. One ofthe chief advantages obtained
from Lining land is the chemical process
that is obtained from the Lime, and the
vegetable and animal substances in the
soil. The result Of this process is that the
uble nutriment for vegetation. The nutri.
ent gases consequent upon the application
of Lime to soils, are fixed by the Lime,
and saved from evaporation, and are yield.
ed only to the growth of plants. sssa
2. Lime supplies ingredients to the soil
which is essential to the growth of plants,
and development OF grains. This advan-
tage Of Lime is very p~alpa5le. If wheat
is composed Of forty-four per cent. of phos-
plate Of Lime, how can the crops be per-
fected If the Lime isnot in the soil?
8. Lime is an Alkali, and consequently
would combine with acids of the soil and
neu,ralize them. thus destroying, by a
chemical process, the Ingredients Of the
soil suitable for sustaining wild and use.
less plants, and qualifying these elements
as food for wholesome and nutritious veg
citation.
d. Slick is The acid element of soils.
while Alummia. Magnesia. and Lime, are
the ak aline elements. DR.. Jackson con.
siders that Lime exerts a controlling effect
over the electrical equilibrium of the soil
Ills a question beyond doubt with me, thai
electricity has much to do with luxurian1
vegetation, and it is known that vegetable
acids are electro.negaiive, and it seems
but reasonable to me that better results
would bo obtained by combining them with
some basic substance.
s.. Caustic Lime, It's known, powerful
ly promotes the germin alton of seeds
Many farmers roll their seed in quick-limt
in order TO hasten their sprouting. Before
a seed terminates ithas to part with its ex
cess of carbon, which is sIolcly changed
into carbonic acid by union with Oxygen
in the common process of termination
White Lime rapidly absorbs the carboni,
acid, and termination takes place in hal
the time. as
6. The use of Lime vastly improves tn,
texture of the soil, thereby increasing it
capacity to absorb moisture, and ADM
air, the contact ofthe ~latterbeing most i'm
~portant TO the thrift OF plants.
Z. Lime applied to the soil prevents th'
breeding, and causes the destruction ofin
~sects, which are hurtful to vegetation
Lime also obviates many diseases in plants
by neutralizing elements in the grount
which are poisonous to their growth. Th,
application Of Lime to soil rich in anima
and vegetable matters is very successful
for it chemically fits them for food fo
plants. and is absorbed itself as the earthy
quality of the vegetable. ;
Cherry Collage.