Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-23

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PAP fbs." This gives us about 60 lbs. per acre
actually removed from the soil every year in com
position with the vegetable matter, and which wa
necessary to its growth and healthy development
We thus see how much of this element may b
needed for the actual noutshn,ent of the plants
and how rapidly soils, not abundantly supplied b.
nature. must become exhausted of this essentia
ingredient, if it be not arti6cia!ly applied,
Under such circumstances lands, which other
wise might be highly productive, may become
sterile and useless.
But this statement only includes the lime neces
sary for single one of the five uses specified above
and that one ordinarily demanding less quantit!
than either of the Others If to this DO added tn
amount sufficient for all the other purposes, W
may appreciate more fully the quantities some
times pro6tably. employed in countries where aag
riculture is carried to the highest perfection Ac
cording to Bossingaut soil which is without 1
considerable proportion Of the calcerous element
never possesses high degree of fsrtility 90
A simple calculation will show that Where M
lime is present in the land, it will require abou
400 bushels per acre to give the small proportion
of only one per cent. of lime for depth Of IL in
ches below the surface.
Few soils are thus wholly devoid of lime, ant
much smaller quantities will suffice for all the pur
noses of agriculture Bossingaut informs US, tha
in England, clay lands receive the large amount o
from 23O to 300 bushels of lime per acre, ant
lighter lands from $50 to 200 bushels. This mus
be but once for term of many years. In Franc'
the amount applied is greatly less about 60 OF q
bushels per acre, at intervals of seven or eigh
years. Johnston tells US that in Great Britain
dose is on an average from to 10 bushels, PEI
acre, year. In Flanders where agriculture ha
achieved its greatest triumphs, the quantity aset
is not so large, only 10 or II bushels every thret
years. In this country the experience is simila
to Europe. .
A practical farmer in Schuylkill county, Penn.
writes: "The quantity (of flime) depends on tn
kind of soil and after-treatment. Heavy clay cal
bear 100 or more bushels to the acre, while, OF
light soils, from so to 81 bushels will answer v"r
we'll" Another report from Chester county
Pennsylvania, says that, slime is mostly spread OF
the sod at the rate of 80 to 60 bushels to the
once in each course of crops, and to show tn
practical results, it is added, NEARLY all our ant
for miles around, was formerly worn out old fields
which would produce nothing but the applicatiol!
of lime unlocked the hidden treasures OF the soil
and rendered available, as food for plants, tn
inert organic matter which it contained. This, &c
companied by judicious cultivation and prope
rotation of crops, has entirely changed the appear
ance of our neighborhood. Scarcely an old fell
is now to be found" Hon. T. G. Clemson, VIII
was formerly connected with the Agricultural De
partment Of the United States Government, re
marks that 80 small quantity as bushel to tn
acre has produced good effects.
Gov. Hammond, of South Carolina, one Of tn
most successful, as well as intelligent planters tn
South has ever had, was accustomed to boat lime
in the condition of shell-mar twelve miles up tn,
Savannah river for the use of his plantation, ant
apply it at the rate of 200 bushels per acre. Th
writer has witnessedon his light, sandy, pine lands
thus lined, yield of 3S bushels ofcorn to the acre
while the same kind of land in an adjacent field
notlimed, would scarcely average l0bushels. Ihes
statements show, at once, the Importance OF linn
as fertilizer, and the marked difference IN tn
quantity which experience has shown to be bes
suited to the soil and climate Of the several countre
mentioned, and points out the necessity for thor
ough understanding of the whole subject, in orde
to a judicioua application of it. To apply to tn
loose and sandy soil of Flanders the POO or 30
bushels, per acre, which the Englishmau finds de
sirable on his compact clay lands, or on his coll
and tenacious heath meadows, would be sad mis-
take.
Enough has been said to show that, compare
lively, large quantities of lime are found to be use
ful in the experience of all these countries, wher
scientific agriculture has successfully worked ou
the highest practical results; but each individua
must reflect for himself upon the principles involr
ed, and upon their application to his particula
case. 1t may be said, in general way, that larg
er portions may be proftably added to stiff an
heavy clays, than to light and sandy lcca[ties-t
wet and lnarshy lands, than to dry and mellow re
gions to deep rich loam, in which vegetable mat
ter abounds, than to poor and exhausted fields. IL
deed, as the primary object of using lime is to d
gest the organic substance already present, rathe
than to act as food for the plant, there being gen
orally enough for that purpose naturallyin the sol
it becomes point of the first Importance to llav
this organic matter abundantly present, and where
ever this condition is fully met, as by the roots
green manures plowed in, or by barnyard composts
we may confidently use the lime with liberal hand
but If these conditions be not complied With, dam
age and disappointment will follow, instead OF tn
rich rewards anticipated. More lime also may
safely applied in cold, than hot climates, and t
land subject to deep tillage, than where plowing
always shallow; for it is plain that less quantt
will suffice to supply the SOIL if only four inche
deep, than if it be plowed IL inches. Whereve
then, q system of high culture is proposed, bot
theory and practice suggest that We begin at trs
with heavy lining, proportioning the quantity t
the quality of the soil, and especially to the amour
of organic matter it contains, and that this be fo
lowed at the close of every rotation of crops, enl
bracing period of several years each, with lighte
Innings. The Flemish rule which gives the small
est quantity of any of the examples quoted above
requires 10 to II bushels, per acre, ut the close
every three years, making an average OF 3 or
bushels annually This in Flanders yields the bes
results for the investment. In France and Eng
land, experience has indicated larger amount.
But one thing is certain, that we of the desolate
South are hopelessy ruined as an agricultural pee
ple, if we do not now avail ourselves promptly c
all those artificial aids which are applicable to ou
case, and which have combined 70 make othe
countries agriculturaly great The same practlc;;
wisdom, energy and earnestness which have mad
the marshes and sandy plains OF Flanders the gal
den of Europe, can convert the abused and waste
regions of the South back again to even more tha
their primeval fertility and beauty.
IF the application is to be made to clay or bog
cy and peaty lands, or to such as have large SUI
niles of inert vegetable matter, the lime should
slaked quickly and applied Immediately, in eau!
tic state. When it is required on lighter lands,
should be "air slaked," or allowed to slake slowl
and spontaneously, by absorbing moisture from th
atmosphere, as this gives it in a finer powder on
somewhat milder form, and therefore, less liable
iniure the tender herbage But for general pul
poses, especially where the soil is light and poo
| it il best that the lime should be well composite
with rich vegetable mould, or such decayed vege!!
able matter as may be avail liable: in this form
can be more regularly scattered, and its caust!
power being somewhat masked in the compost,
IS less liable to do injury, at the same time that
acts more promptly and efficiently upon the grow