Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-11
Agrienltnral.
Lime as a Manure.

The application of lime to the soil as
mode of enrichment, has been practiced in
all well-cultivated countries, at every pc
riod of authentic history. The axiom, for
a long time received by some as the quint-
essence of wisdom-"That lime enriches
the father, but impoverishes the son." en-
bodies an error that has been, and still is
productive of much harm 1t is true that
the wonderful fertility it produces, when
applied in liberal quantities, and for sever
al years in succession, ultimately fall off
vet this is no evidence that it must impov
erish the land, as natural and inevitable
result The same observation or maxim
will be found equally applicable to gypsum,
saltpetre mira of soda and common SALT
of which are recognized as invaluable fer
tilizers, ,and capable of augmenting the pro-
ductiveness of any soil to which they are
iudiciousiy and Systematically applied
When, they are used literally for a certain
number of years, the land has been after
wards found to be weaker and less produc-
tive than before 1t will require nearly
four hundred bushels of lime to the acre, to
add one per cent. to the soil. Most crops
take not less than ten substances, one of
which is lime, and if this be lacking
though the other nine elements or constitu-
ents may be in eXcess-the crop will not
be perfect By adding lime luxuriant
growth is secured the application is re-
peated, but after few years the crops fail
there is diminution of product, no profit
is realized, and the farmer in despair.
One would suppose that very slight de-
gree of reflection would be sufficient to sat
isfy him of the cause While he has been
liberal in his applications of material that
supplies one ingredient, he has neglected
the other nine, and, as natural conse-
quence, the soil has grown poor, and can no
longer produce a remunerating crop. AL
low me an illustration.
The iron smelter fills his furnaces with
iron ore and coal--he applies fire but OBJ
tains no iron till he throws in lime. He
adds this, and obtains flow of metal The
dose is repeated and another flow follows !;
but no lime, this is discontinued, and to OBJ
tain more metal he is compelled to put in
more ore and coal then the lime produces
its legitimate effects. So in the use of lime
in agriculture. If we supply only lime, we
shall certainly reap poor crops but if,
along with it, we furnish supply of mat
tiers rich in the other ingredients of vege-
tation, we shall produce the advantageous
effects resulting from the first application.
Lime must have something to work on and
with it must be applied in conjunction
with humus, or to soils in which humus al
ready exists, or its application will be of no
avail The man who expects to reclaim a
sterile soil by lining only, need not be sur
prised if he only has his labor for his pains
The best method of using lime is to mix
it with old lime, in the proportion of one.
eighth lime, and to place it Immediately in
the hole with the corn. When used for 9th
er kinds of grain, it should be spread on
the top of the ground after it is plowed, and
narrowed IN with the grain. No one can
fully estimate the value of lime for this pur
pose, unless they try the experiment. The
average difference in crop is from one
third to one-half more by using lime 1t is
almost the only sure prevention of vermi1
ON fruit trees in this section of the country
Lime placed about the body of the tree ear
ly i'll spring, will prevent their increase
Stacked lime, mixed with the soap and wa
ter, used as WASH on the parts of trees
where these insects have deposited their
eggs, will destroy them entirely. This has
been proved by the writer.
In many parts of England they estimate
the value OF their land in proportion to the
nearness of access to the limekilns, on &C.
count of its valuable properties when used
for dressing. Farmers should give more O
their attention to this subject, and use lime
more literally where the soil is not calca
reous.-C0r. Ger. Telegraph.