The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-29
The Salt and Lime Mixture.

The mixture is made by dissolving one
bushel Of salt in the least water possible,
and then shaking with this three bushels of
lime hot from the kiln. This is all the salt
that can be used by this method to slake the
lime. The most valuable lime for agricul-
tural purposes is shell lime, or that made
from burning oyster or clam shells. An
other method recommended by G. W. john
son is, to mix one bushel Of salt with two
Of lime, dry, under cover, and allow it
gradually to decompose and unite the chic
rine of the salt with, the lime. 1t may be
turned occasionally for two or three months,
by which time it will be we'll united to-
gether. And whatever way is taken to form
the mixture, it should not be used immedl-
ately, but should remain incorporated at
least six weeks, that the chemical union
may be well formed. The chemical changes
that take place are: the chlorine of the
salt unites with the lime and forms coarse
chloride of lime the soda Of the salt 10
mostly set free, and probably slowly at
tracts carbonic acid from the air, and forms
carbonate of soda. This mixture has re-
markable decomposing power, and if you
mix three or four bushels of 1t with cord
of swamp muck, leaves, or any other vege-
table matter, it will soon be reduced to q
powder. 1t is most excellent to mix with
coarse manure for the purpose Of decom-
posing it and rendering it fine. After the
sour muck from wet places is decomposed
by the salt and lime it is then in ripe con-
dition to be composted with barn-yard ma
nure, and compost becomes as valuable as
the barn yard manure alone. Almost every
farm has a supply of muck, which might be
turned into valuable manure. Hog manure
has been greatly benefited by mixing with
the salt and lime-corre Getting its rank cha
raoter and fitting it for garden use but 1t
is probably better that the salt and lime
should first be composted with muck and
then applied to the hog manure. We stated
in our first article on manures that salt and
lime composted with barn-yard manure
would preserve the ammonia. This has
been considered by most who have used 1t
as practically correct; but, theoretically,
that small portion of this mixture which
becomes carbonate of soda would be sup
posed to dissipate the ammonia unless the
| chlorine was sufficient to absorb it al, ,
| which is, no doubt, generally the case. Z.
| This salt and Lime mixture clone m axes
an excellent top dressing for most crops, at
| the rate Of twenty to thirty bushels, per
acre.. The character Of the lime is 80 much
changed by the union Of the salt that there
| is no danger of injury from an excessive
quantity, and where land has been over
lined top-dressing Of salt will correct it
at once. The decomposing effect of this
mixture, upon vegetable matter in the soil
is very great. Fifty bushels applied to
turnip field has produced as large. crop as
| twenty loads of the barn-yard manure
4 which could only be accounted fol-, on the
| supposition Of its decomposipg vegetable
matter in the soil, and rendering it fit for
| plant food It is also very destructive oi
| insects, grubs, &c., in the soil. Like salt,
| this mixture has the power of attracting
moisture from the air, and has often been
| observed to prevent the effects Of drouth.-
1 Rural Ne1D YOrEer.