The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-10-29
Agricultural.
About Lining Land

plant wants lime they say. to help make ur
its constituent elements. They point YOU to
the ashes of plants to show that lime is found
there las an accidental OF incidental mpurity,
we say and therefore thev teach that YOU
must apply lime to the soil. Without stop.
ping to discuss this question in full we will
remark first, that with considerable expcr.
fence in lining and our best results from lis
application have been on a soil per fectlv
saturated, so to speak, with lime. Its fine
particles were in part disintegra,ed Tor pull
verZed) limestone, the water flowing
through it, was lime water: and the rocks
and stones intermngled with the soil. wero
| nearly pure limestones carbonate of lime. y
In this case the applied burned lime could
not have been needed to supply lime to the
plants, for-the theory of the condition oflime
naturally in the soil TO the contrary notwi,h.
standing we confidently assert that the lime
water, Tor soluble lime in the water) would
furnish an infinite abundance for a II the wants
Of the plant itself. Second. We have nalvzed
many soils from various localities, and
studied the analysis of hundreds OF others,
and we never yet knew Of an otherwise good
soil which did not show enough lime in its
composition, to supply the (supposed) needed
quantity of lime for any crop. We will add
here, that for good and sufficient reasons,
reasons as yet unanswered. we hold as un-
substantial theory. the present scientific
teachings that a certain definite quantity of
particular Ill neral elements are essential to
the perfect growth of plants
What is the use of lime applied to soil
then We answer, lime acts only second.
arliy. as a promotion of certain changes in
the elements Of the soil. When lime is
burned, its carbonic acid is expelled, and it
Is then cauStlc alkaii. in a finely divided
condition Tor being intimately mixed with
the soil 1t is then eager (has strong affinity
to unite with other elements. especially with
the acid or sour elements IN the soil Applied
to soils in this caustic condition. its action is
three. fold
IrSf,--Mlost soil contains more or less of
vegetable acids. They are to some degree
sour. The caustic or burned lime when
added neutraizes ordestloys these acids. and
"weetens, as we say. the soil rendering it
more congenial to growing plants, This
elect Is Just as great upon many soils already
lliled with unraustic limestone or lime I'M
burned, as upon those having little or no
lime.
Se'Om.- Caustic lime disSolves species of
ASphallc coating formed npon vegetable
matter in soils, and exposes the inner texture
to the action of ar which dccomposcs it and
prepares 1t TO enter into roots of plants as
nom iShmtnt.
Third. Vegetable matters. when decaying
or decompoSing, yield certain amount of
COMPOUND substances, among which is car
bone acid, which antics readily with such
alHalles as cauStic lime, potash. etc. Now it
IS a law OF chemistry that compound will
tie more readily produced when there is
present another substance for which the new
compound has an affinity. Therefore the
bare presence Of caustlc lime in Ia soil haslens
the decomposition of the vegetable matters
and they more readily yield their elements to
n3nr'Sh growing plants.
FROM the above considerations we may
derive few simple rules for the application
OF lime, promising the remark, that while
close observation and thought will assist in
determining this matter, yet the multitude
can only judge by trlGt when lime is useful
and not so.
SUCCESSIVE rifles FOR APPLYING LIME.
L. 1t is desirable that lime should I've as
nearly cauStc (recently burn,d) as possible,
The elect Of burning is merely to drive off its
combined carbonic acid, and the longer the
lime is exposed after burning, the greater is
the amount ofcarbonlc acid returned TO it by
the air.
2. Lime should be finely divided (water
slackcd) that it may be mingled as thoroughly
as possible with the soil
.. Lime acts comparatively the most ben
etrlaliy upon such crops as ara most sensitive
to vegetable acids or sour substances in soils.
An example of this is found in potatoes which
are usually benefited by lime.
4 II l.. l.
impregnatcd with sour substances and I'M
drcomposcd vegetable matter; hence. wet
soils are most likely to be benefited by an
applica ton of lime
s. Clays, and compact soils generally
admit air less freely than light porous soils,
and the former. therefore, contain larger pro-
Yortions Of undecompostd vegetable matter
Lime benefits by assisting to dccompoSc
such substances. and fit them for plant
nourishment.
6. The great majority of even light soils
contain some undecayed matter, and even on
the most sandy ones small quantity of lime
will be tempolily beneficial
I. On light soils, the effect of lime is most
needed below the surface, where the air has
not penetrated freely. On heavy or wet soils
1t is needed near the sur face also
o. IL ~ usually oeNL 10 Apply tne lime al
the time of or just before putting in crops,
that they may get the full benefit of its action,
which begins Immediately.
9. On light. warm soils. too much lime
viii decoinpoSe the vegetable matter faster
than needed. and there will he waste -
Continued free application of lime will
decompose all the vegetable matter in such
soils, and leave them comparatively barren.
Such soils are said TO be :" llmtsick."
10. An annual application of lime is better
than less frequent supply ofa larger guam
tity, since in the former case lis action is
more continuous upon the successive crops
IL. On many light warm soils, where the
vegetable matter is dccomposed by air and
sun. lime will he injurious rather than ben
ciicial.
- The heavier and wettcr the soil, the
greater will be the quantity of lime which
may be useful. A yearly application of lime
may very from four to thirty bushels pen acre.
just according to the condition of the soil.
IL Lime may be sown broadcast on the
surface, as top-dressing; or it may Re added
to the hill. Usually the best method is to
sow it upon the surface before planting or
seeding and then to harrow it in WELL