M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-04-21


lime to land is based upon wrong
hypothesis. The plant wants lime,
say they, to help make up it's constitu-
ent elements. They point you to the
ashes Of plants to show that lime is
found there, Gas an accidental or incl
dental impurity, we say,) and there
fore they teach that you must apply
lime to the soil. Without stopping
to discuss this question in full, we will
remark: First, that with considerable
experience in lining land, our best re-
suits from its application have been on
soil perfectly saturated, so to speak,
with lime. It's fine particles were in
part disintegrated. Tor pulverized,)
lime stone; the water flowing through
il was lime water; and the rocks and
stones ;ntermingled with the soil were
nearly pure lime stones, Carbonate OF
lime.) In this case the applied burn.
ed lime could not have been needed
to supply lime to the plants, for--the
theory of the condition of the lime
naturally in the soil to the contrary
Notwithstanding we confidently as.
Bert that the lime water, (or soluble
lime in the water) would furnish an
infinite abundance for all the wants
Of tho plant itself. Second. We have
analyzed many soils from various To-
calities, aud studied the analyst Of
hundreds of others, and we never yet
knew Of an otherwise good soil, which
did not show enough lime in its COM
position, to supply the (supposed)
needed quantity of lime for any crop.
rive will add here, that for good sufi-
cient reasons, reasons as yet unan-
swered, we hold as unsnbstantiated
theory, the present scientific teachings
that certain definite quantity Of par
ticular mineral elements are essential
TO the perfect growth Of plants.
What Is the use Of lime applied to
soil, thenl We answer, lime acts
only secondary, as promotion Of
certain changes in the soil. When
lime is burned, its carbonic acid is ex-
PEELED, and it is then a caustic a'kali,
in a finely divided condition for being
intimately mixed with the soil. 1t
is then eager, (has strong afhnity,) |
to unite with other elements, especial
ly with the acid or sour elements in
the soil. Applied to soils in this
canstic condition, its action is three
fold.
FIrst.-Most soils contain more or
less of vegetable acids. They are, to
some degree, sour. The eaustic or
burned lime when added, nsutraliseS
or destroys these acids, and sweetens,
as we'say, the soil, rendering it more
congenial to growing plants. This
effect is just as great upon many soils
already filled with uncaustiC lime
stone or lime unburned, as upon
those having little or no lime.
SecOn3.--Caustic lime dissolves
species of aspha!tic coating formed
upon vegetable matter In soils, and
exposes the inner texture to the &C
tion of air, which decomposes it and |
prepares it to enter into the roots OF
plants as nourishment. d
IHird.-Vegetable. matters, when
decaving or decmposing, yield GER
tain amount of compound substances,
among which is carbonic acid, which
unites readily with such alkalies as
caustic lime, potash, etc. Now, it is
a law of chemistry, that compound
will DO more readily produced, when
there is present another substance for
which the new compound has an affin-
ity. Therefore, the bare presence of
caustic lime in a soil hastens the de-
composition Of the vegetable matters,
and they more readily yield their ell
ements to nourishing growing plants.
From the above considerations, we
may derive few simple rules for the
application of lime, promising the re-
mark, that while close observation and
thought will assist in determining
TINS matter, yet tue lhulllluue cah oli
ly Judge by trial when line IS useful
and when notso.
SUGGESTIVE RULES FOR APPLYING LIME.
1. tits desirable that lime should
be as nearly caustic, (reecntly burned,) }
as possible. The effect Of burning is
merely to drive off its combined car,
bonic acid, and the longer the lime is
exposed after burning, the greater is
the amount Of carbonic acid returned
to it by the air.
2. Lime should be finely divided,
(water slaked,) that it may be miogled
US thoroughly as possible with the
soil.
9. Lime acts comparatively the
most benefcially upon such crops ai
are most sensible to vegetable acids OF
sour substances in soils. An exam
pie OF this 10 found in potatoes, which
are usually benefited by lime.
A.. Wet co d lands are most suhjec
to be impregnated with sour substan
nos and nnderOmDosed vegetable