Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-08-24
AGRICULTURAL, &C.
From the Germantown Telegraph
when Should Lime be APPLIED q

"hen should Lime be Applied
Different farmers would give very differ
ent answers to the above question. Some
apply 1t just before they break up for corn
and plow it under for the corn crop; some
spread 1t on the corn ground after it is
plowed, and harrow it in before the corn is
planted; and Others apply it to the grass
alter the wheat crop is taken off,
lhere are three established facts which
must influence us in deciding the proper
time Tor the application of lime 1st, that
1t takes certain length of time to produce
It's effect upon the soil Cd, it drives the
ammonia from barnyard manure whenever
1t comes in contact with it; 3D., its action
hastens the decomposition of vegetable mat
ter which the soil may contain.
10 decide the first case, the farmer must
satisfy himself as to what particular crop
he wishes to benefit by the application Of
lime. If he wishes the corn to have the
benefit, he should apply it at least one year
before the corn is planted. If the grass is
20 receive the benefit, then he must apply it
before the grass comes to its perfection
but in applying it with this view, reference
must be haG to the second item, with re-
gard to its effect on the ammonia, by far tho
most valuable portion of the barnyard ma
nure. The third proposition should also
have its bearing upon the farmers decision
Let us examine into the effect produced
by coat of lime applied to the sod year
or six months before it Is broken up for
corn. This plan has its advantages, which
may thus be enumerated: being applied for
this length of time previous to plowing it,
is, when the sod is turned just ready to as
sist in its decomposition, and causing it to
be fitted for feeding the ensuing corn crop
1t may bc done either the spring or fall be-
fore the field is plowed, thus coming at
leisure time.
This plan also has its disadvantages The
lime being applied to the sod. is turned
under to the bottom of the furrow; most
farmers plow deeper for corn than for oats,
| and consequently the lime is seldom brought
| to the surface when plowing for oats; and
during the time the oats crop is coming to
perfection, the lime, on account of its speci-
tic gravity, is sinking into the soil deeper
and deeper. Then, where plowing twice
for wheat is practiced Gas it ought always to
be,) the powing is done deeply, the lime is
brought to the surface, the manure is ap-
piled, and they come in contact, producing
a great loss, as set forth in proposition third.
Lime, to produce its proper effect, must
be retained where the air has access to it, or
near the surface of the SOIL its specific
gravity being much greater than that of
common soil, it gradually sinks through the
latter, and very often out of the reach of the
plow. Hence the benefit derived from sub
soiling.
Let US now investigate the plan of apply
ing it to the wheat stubble for the benefit
of the ensuing crops of grass. The main
| disadvantage following this plan is that the
corn receives no benefit from the lime, and
the soil at the time the corn is growing con
tains more undecomposed vegetable matter
than at any other time.
| do not like the application of lime to
the corn crop, because consider that it has
! a tendency to keep the oats green and to
make the straw stiff and harsh, more like
wheat straw, and have always found that
| the cattle do not relish it as well. Whether
this objection will overbalance the advanta-
! ges enumerated, leave for Others to judge.
There is third plan which think obvi-
ates the disadvantages of both systems
Let the manure, instead of being applied to
the wheat, be spread op the sod and plowed
down deep for corn. When blowing for
oats, plow one-half as deep, say six inches,
and avoid bringing the manure to the sur
face it being thus buried and deprived of
the influence of the atmosphere, will decom-
pose but little. In plowing for wheat, plow
| tUCe, ull thiS Will
the manure with the soil.
Or, if you prefer it, give the corn a mode
| rate coat of manure and treat as before, and
in the fall give the wheat what was left in
the yard (under shelter) and that which was
collected and made during the summer.
The advantages of this plan may be thus
set forth. The manure is hauled out early
! in the spring while there is leisure, and be-
fore the teams are tagged out with their
summers work. So long as the weather is
cold the manure will not suffer from the ex-
posure, but some think it improves. 1t is
plowed in, and you thereby save the trouble
of placing it under shelter, (Which take it
for granted you do,) and also the loss,
which, even with the very best care, must
take place during the summer. The corn
does not take any more Of the substance of
the manure than would otherwise have
evaporated during the summer.
BY the time the ground is ready for
| wheat, the manure is decGmposed and tho
| roughly mixed with the soil.
| Between the two plowings for wheat ap-
ply lime, if you choose, but prefer to apply
1t to the wheat stubble in the fall after the
wheat is taken off, and pasture the next
year and NOW the ensuing one, when the
lime will have its full effect upon the grass.
| throw out these ideas that all may thiuk
the matter over and see if they are pursuing
the best course, and if not, adopt better
one, as has been the case with Inc, and let
US hear what il is. sP.w.