Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-10
AonIcUIxUnAI.
ror Tie Efiswcrth ADsrtca,.
Lims - Q Manure and Q Otinulant

4
nds greater obs acle. to success. for the
rant Of manure. than for better climate
n State to farm In, and 1t is for this reason
hat introduce the subject Of lime and its
lses, a. . manure and as . stimulant,
Chemists tells rs, by manure, " meant any
ertilizing simple or compound substance,
which. when applied to . soil under cultiva-
lions. tend to promote the growth and |
Of the plants, In supplying them |
With such nutriment as that soil may be
deficient in, and by calcarcous manurcs,
those which lime or magnesia enters. in
considerable quantities, into their compo-
sition, either before or after they have been
exposed for a considerable time to violent
heat, and have lost their humid or volatile
parts. or have been decomposed by the &C
ton of the weather, or other influences.
The latter comprise those substances
usually known under the names OF Lime,
chalk, plaster. or gypson. magnesia- &c
In treating OF these manures. 1t is my
purpose to connne my remarks As TO their
nature, properties, sources, and operations,
rs science and chemistry reveals them.
directions for their application TO the soil.
rs connected with the leading principles OF
practical and scientific husbandry. There
fore. IL well deserves the most exact and
careful attention of q practical farmer to
avail himself Of every species OF informa-
tion that will throw any light on their uses.
application, and their injurious. as well rs
beneficial effects on his soils, manures, and
crops.
LINE. Ione OF the most widely difused
substances in nature, called by Chemists"
Protoxide Of calcium is extensively distri-
buted throughout this earth and its inhabi-
tants, combined principally with carbonic.
sulphuric, and silicic acids, in the forma-
ton Of lime stone. marble, chalk. gypsom.
phosphorite, organic remains. &c.-Not-
outstanding the immence quantities OF
carbonate and sulphate Of lime. which con-
stitute SO large = proportion OF the crust
OF our globe, II is questioned by some.
whether lime should not be looked upon as
. Characteristic Of the animal. rather than
the mineral kingdom OF nl,ure.-For the
bony or testaceous skeleton. by which the
softer portions Of the animal frame are at
tached is always found to consist of lime,
united with carbouic or phosphoric acids.
The bones and teeth of animals. mainly
consists Of phosphate OF lime. Indeed. 1t
is a remarkable fact, that all the great
geological formations, of which lime Is
the prominent ingredient. arc found 10
consist Of the aggregated skeletons. shells
or casts Of investebrate animals, which
had ererted at some period long before the
creation of man. From the denscst and
hardest limestone to the soi,est chalk. the
entire mass generally revolves itself into
a congeries of animal remains. and hence
the great supply OF lime in the the mineral
state arises from the destruction OF It's
animal sources. The lime therefore. which
exists in nature. must be looked upon a.
being continually in a state OF passage be-
tween the organic and the inorganic king
doms. The plants chat grow upon the soil
take mp by dissolution In their juices. salts
OF lime. which pass into the substance OF
the animal that feeds upon them. and ac-
circulating in its system, they afford ma
terials for the proper Development OF the
skeletons, the hair. the skin and the softer
parts. In considering the chemical nature
of the ash of plants, il is known that
lime in all cases. forms 4 considerable pro-
nnrfian NJ IT'S ~hnla xx.,utt bapce III.
reason why lime is regarded as q neccessa-
~ food OF plants, and hence also, one cause
of its beneficial influence in general agri-
cultural practice. The quantity Of pure
lime contained In the crops produced upon
one acre. according TO Professor Johnston,
during four years rotation, amounts on
An average TO 242 pounds, which are equal
to about 40 pounds of carbonate of lime in
state Of shell-sand or lime-s stone gravel.
1t is Obvious therefore, that one Of the most
stances as 8 chemical constituent OF the soil
Is, TO supply this comparatively large
quantity which, in some form or other,
must enter into the roots OF plants. But
all crops do not contain lime in the same
proportion, and the quantities are not con-
slant in the same plant. Wheat especially,
contains much more lime, when grown up
on Land 10 which lime has been especially
applied, yet, the variable quantities, con-
tanned in our economical plants, show that
one reason why lime favors the growth Of
some crops more than others, is, that some
actually take up larger quantity OF it in
their food.-These crops, therefore, require
the presence Of lime in . greater proper
ton In the soil. in order that they may be
able TO obtain it so readily that no delay
may occur in the performance Of those
functions, or in the growth Of those parts
10 which lime Is Indispensable con-
dnuing our investigation, let US enquire
whAt eject lime has on our cereals, forest,
and fruit trees, and all vegetation which
Affects the farmer In his VOCATION
Chemists" tells ~, that the ashes of the
Dat plant contains 5 per cent Of lime. in
2 lbs of barlev "a grains in lbs OF wheat
IL grains, In 2 lbs Of rye Is grains, In a
given weight Of Dat straw. SO grains, in
the same weight Of rye straw 46 grains
II also abounds to . very great extent in
the wood Of trees, the ashes Of the oak
contain 20 per cent Of lime, the poplar
n per cent, the hazel 8 per cent, the null
berry IS per cent, and hom-besm 26 per
cent. The proportion Of lime is found To
vary with the composition Of the soil on
which plants grow. The ashes Of q ar
tree growing upon . limestone hill, were
found TO contain - per cent, but the ashes
Of another. growing on granite soil only
70 per cent From these data, we are TO
believe then, . soil cannot be possibly suit