The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-06-02
g qrit " 4 t nral.
[FRo1 THE GARpEsER's MoSrHLf'l
Uses of Lime in Gardening.
BY VIM. BRIGHT, LOGAN NURSERY, PA1LA

of all the mineral and earthly substances en-
Moved in agriculture and gardening, there is no
one nrobablv. about which there exists in the
minds Of most persons, more doubt and uncer-
tainty as to its real value and action, than IN
resnect to the simple article Lime Some farm
ers and gardeners think very highly of it, and use
It constantly Others use it rarely, or discard 1t
altogether. The most elaborate papers on the
uses of Lime, (such as that in Johnston's Chem
istry, for instauce) fail to enlighten the most III
telligent readers as to the true nature and ac-
tion.of it upon soils and plants; and the most
contradictory statements are constantly being
published, in Agricultural journals, as to the
practical effects of lining land.
The truth is, that while some Of the most i'm
portant uses of lime are overlooked too much is
expected oft, by many who employ it. Farm
ers and gardeners are nearly all apt to look too
much to one substance as fertilizer. One thinks
lie can do everything with lime another bases
all his hopes of success on plaster; a third will
have nothing but rotted sod, while fourth
thinks grand panacea is to be found in guano
No error is more fatal to success than this one
idea notion Lime is very important auxi-
ary to other manures. It is in more ways than
one real fertilizer, and it produces sets free,
and organizes fertilizng qualities in other mat
tiers: but it is by no means universal manure
or fertilizer.
To make long story short, propose to set
down, in series of paragraphs, the most evident
and important uses of lime in gardening, and to
call attention especially to two actions which
it possesses, which are not very generally recog
nized or understood.
/. Lime is an alkaline earth, Ca sort of SALTY
and its first and most evident use is to saoeeten
our soils.
g. Lime furnishes. a substance which is present
in considerable quantities in the ash of nearly all
our cultivated plants and fruits. For this reason
partly lime is specially usefulto potatoes. The
tuber of the potato shows but trace of lime in
ton, and hence, some writer's have hastily con-
Guided, that lime in quantity, is lot essential to
this crop. But look at the analysis of the straw
or tops; there you will find nearly three hun
dred pounds in the product of an acre.
8 Freshly Stacked, or caustic lime, acts
powerful decomposing AGENT when in contact
with masses of earth or vegetable matter, set
ting free many substances which before existed
in forms insolube in water, and causing the natu-
raj decay of organic bodies to be fastened
A. Lime causes cod dense soils, to become
more open and porous and renders light sandy
sells more close in texture, or more adhesive
These last are facts very generally understood.
5, Vegetable matter Chat is, loam soda,
stable manure and straw is the food of lime
BY its decomposing power, it may almost liter
ally be said to eat up vegetable matter and loan.
It effectuaIly decomposes and drives vegetable
matter and manure out of the soil, when in the
caustic state Hence, where there is little loan
there lime should be used sparingly
6. Not only does lime decompose vegetable
matter, but when used in excess it renders the re-
suits of decomposition ansoluble in water
This is an important point We have not space
to elucidate it. But we state the fact, that lime
not only decomposes and renders soluble vege-
table matter, but in excess, it renders the results
of decomposition iasoIuble.
Z. Lime In close proximity with decaying nj
trogenous matters in the SOIL Gas horse manure
hair, leather, etc. becomes real ammonia pro
ducing agent as it is well-known fact that
lime and nitrogen, under such circumstances.
unite to form Nitrate of Lime, fully equal to
ammonia as a fertiizing agent, while potash and
nitrogen form Nitrate of Potash, (salt petre) the
money-yalue of which as manure needs no ex-
PLANTATION.
8. Lime, when it has been burned and Stacked,
and again becomes mild, Cor is changed into the
form of carbonate) is then a store-house of Car
bonic Acid for the use of plants, and in certain
degree, has the same action upon vegetation as
Carbonic Acid evolved from decaying vegetable
matter. You will ask, how is this carbonic acid
set free | answer, in one instance, by the &C.
ton OF Carbonate of Lime upon silica or sand
(Which is chiefly an acid) Silicic Acid is liberated,
winch IN It's turn acts upon the Carbonate of
Lime ana large quantities of Carbonc Acid are
let loose Other changes. of a similar charac-
ter, take place in the soil, caused by the actions
and reactions OF acids and alkalies which result
in the liberation of Carbonic Acid held in com.
bination by lime, and thus it serves in a measure
the same purpose as vegetable carbon, in IFS re-
lation to plants
The last two sectious q and 81 are those to