Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-04-07
AGRICULTURAL.
Lime as . Manure and Stimulant.
CONCLUDED.

The deficiency of vegetable matter in
always act upon them beneficially and II
should therefore be used on these soils
sparingly, with an interval of five or six
years between each limeins. Indeed. it is
often necessary. to change the mode of
manuring land, as ii is to change the crops
to be cultivated, and it is from not attend
ing sufficiently to this change, that a.able
farms become deteriorat. d. while the farm
er fancied that he was doing great justice
TO the land. by limeing every third or
fourth year. But let the Introduction of a
green crop Of clover be tried in such case.
and he will Afterwards find his grain crops
increase. and his land in better filth. Some
may think. from witnessing the first effects
of lime. that they can always have re-
course TO il with the same success But
In this they will aSsuredly be disappointed.
once in four or five years. according TO the
nature or til. land, is rs often a. lime can
be applied with advantage 1t may be
proper to observe, likewise. that when
lime is apple in small quantities. as n ma
nu re. il is necessary TO repeat the applica-
ton frequently. 1t Is probable that the soil
loDses its absorbent qualities. commune
Gated by the lime for experience proves.
TINT il lime De frequently US d. II must be
applied As a manure. not simply a. slim
ulant. AMI to this end il must he compound
ei with earth. clay. top>oil. and other mat
tar, peat. muck. To which it communicates
its stimulating qualities. its iertiizing
effects are thereby augmented. In this
state, it will act powerfully as 4 manure.
ard be a valuable auxillery in the hands Of
the farmer; most varieties OF subsoil strata,
make good compounds with lime. sand
and lime with peat. muck. turf should be-
coinpostcd for clayey soil. aud subsoil
clay and line, for sands. gravels, loan and
peaty soils. No farmer need complain of
want of materials. to make fertilizing com
pounds, since every kind of soil may b
used for this purpose There are but few
localities in our vicinity. however barren,
that may not be improved. or brought into
a fertile state, by dressing with well pro-
portioned mixture of earth. clay, sand, or
muck and lime. according As the soil is
light or heavy, cold or warm. Light soils
have been injured by too abundant applica-
ton Of lime. and while one part of lime to
six or ten parts of earth, NAV do for light
soils. on heavy clayey soils, it vii! require
ma NJ lima IN fhraa ri. Of
earth. sand or top soil. For common, or
practical use, composing with peat, muck,
clay. sand, turf surface soil Or any refuse
from the farm, of any and all kinds and
good results are certain. Quick lime has
the power, or the effect of disengaging or
setting free. tie ammonia. from guano and
fermenting manures; il is equivalent there
fore, and a safer way to apply the lime a
short time before or after. such manures
have been laid on the land. Where land is
moist, and abounds in vegetable matter.
there may not be much loss. should the
lime and the manure come in contact be-
meath its surface. In dry soils. and on the
the surface OF the land. the admixture of
the two ought to be carefully avoided AZ
ter the lime has been sometime in or on
the surface of the soil, and converted into
chalk, or mild state. it can exercise no
Injurious effect upon any kind of manure
The most valuable variety of lime for ag-
ricultural purposes. is that obtained by
burning oyster-shells, and allowing it to
slack in the open air. quarry lime, in some
instances, is not SO good on account of the
magncsia which it often contains, and from
its small quantity Of phosphoric acid. The
quantity used, must depend upon the ma
ure of the soil. and its moisture. Whist
eighty bushels are sufficient for sandy soils,
loans will require one hundred. and clay
one hundred and 6fty bushels. Air Stacked
lime is prefer able for agricultural purposes,
from the fact that it Is much finer, and in
creases over three times its bulk.
Bucksport. Mar. 18th. 1870.