Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-02-02
Lime Applied to Soils.

beds Of lime, and the different forms i
which it was applied to the sois-.hat i:
in it, broken, ground, or, as is more i
use, in a calcined state, and closed Will
remarking npon the application Of lin
fresh burned
Strong reasons for applying lime as sool
as practicable after burning, and in pow
dered and caustic state, are, that les
quantity will answer for the purpose o
covering the surface of the ground, tha
it comes more readily into contact with tn
minute PARTICLES Of the land, and act
more powerfully upon all organic matter
such as the roots and tibres of plants, seeds
insects, and recently applied manure, &C
celebrating their decomposition, transform
ing them into vegetable mould, and con
verting it into proper food for plants.
Upon sour, unhealthy soils, or upoi
those where wild grasses and noxious
weeds abound, it acts as corrective, Civ
ing health and vigor to the land. So also,
during the process of Stacking, the heat
generated by the absorpsion Of moisture
swells the soil 20 an extent which renders
1t tenaeious-fermentatiOn may be produ-
eel, hard soil made mellow, woody and
animal 6bre converted into elements which,
By the help Of rain, may be readily and
easily Appropriated by growing plants.
In such applications, juigrnen: and eau
ton are necessary, les, the farmer be led
into the error Of applying more than is re.
quisite, as too large a quantity, from It's
well-knOwn caustic qualities, will destroy
to certain extent the efficacy Of animal
mnnures, or BY combining with certain of
their elements form some new chemical
arrangements, rendering them improper or
unattainable food fox growing vegetation
Quick-lime added to stable manure in q
state Of fermentation burns it SO much as
often to render it unfit for use, or if used
of very little value. 1t should, in conse-
1uence, be mixed with barn yard manure,
in small quantities, and then only neccs-
sary to destroy the seeds of the nox;ous
weeds, or to ass;s. in the decomposition of
roots and other coarse vegetable matter, in
- ye
land, our recommendation is to pu. on the
manure and plow it under and then SOW
the lime, and harrow it in With the seed.
Different soils require various treatment,
and are benefited in different ratio to the
amount of lime employed in proportion to
their power Of combining and rendering
useful the lime a. applied. There are SO
many phases exhibited in the use of lime
on various soils, and in the quantities used,
that volume would hardly suffice to give
a practicable and full elucidation of the
subject. Therefore farmers knowing its
prop-;eties and action can, by the exercise
Of good judgment, aided BY observation,
soon determine the best method Of apply
ing it, as well as the amount which may be
used with benefit.
1t should be understood that time is q
requisite 10 the growth Of all plants and
trees, and may be considered an essential
part of all vegetable substances as direct
food. 1t i. found by chemical analysis to
vary with the different plants and grains,
but never entirely wanting in any. Itva-
ries with the soil upon which the plants
grow, as tree grown upon strong lime
stone land is found TO contain nearly fifty
per cent. more lime than tree of the came
species grown where bu, little lime was to
be found. From this we deduce the fact
that plants and trees make free use OF lime
where it is abundant, while soil in which
it is not found, or in which very little e1-
lists, is UNFIT for agricultural purposes.
In the application Of line which has tC
be purchased by the farmer, be the cost
never so little, he will desire to get along
With small amount as will answer well
the purpose for which it is used. DR.. Lee
saws be has become satisfied from expert
rien.s ard analysis that two per cent. o.
the carbonate is as good as much larger
quantity; that the excellent wheat land:
of Wheatland are not improved by i.s ap
plication, and in none Of that soil has more
than two per cent. been found. The DIR
expresses the opinion that "instances ar
rare rhere one per cent. exists that th'
addition Of more is beneficial, or pays sh'
the cos, of application" lie further says
.'if all the lime il an acre Of the best whea
land in this distric: were separated from
the soil to tho depth Of ten inches, tn
amount would be from ten to twenty IONS.
Assuming these statements to be tru'
there is little danger ofany farmers buy
ing and applying too much lime TO hi
land, and we are al loss to understan
how too much can we'll be used, or why
critical analysis Of the soil can be nece:
sary before applying the lime. There are
however, some very important esnsidera
lions connected with the application OF Inn
.L.,r,;o, of farmers cannot b