The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-09-21

! cry such insolublc grain, and set
ting part Of its inmates at liberty
Ut the same time it opens tn
door to the action Of other ascn
cics which libcratc the rest. The,
arc then foated away in the wa
ter which pcnetrates the soil, aut
being in due season absorbed, ar
built INTO the substance Of tn,
plant.
AcTIoN OF LIME on MINERAL
MATTER ENpLAlNEp.-Thc actor
Of lime, which has just been men
toned, is :, simple consequence 0
its basic properties. 1t takes pos
session OF part Of the silicic acit
Of the alkaline silicate in tho
rocky grains. Their potassa anc
soda being now combined will
this acid in small proportion, art
soluble in the water which pene
trates the soil.
Ihe water OF the soil Away!
contain a certain proportion O
carbon;c acid. This acid beng it
self material for vegetable nHtri
ton, has also the property Of dis
solving those mineral substances
which the plant needs for its sup.
port. BY the joint action of car.
bonic acid and water, this transfer
is constantly going on even with.
out the aid Of lime. But the lat.
ter substance very much accele.
rates the action, and thus adds
greatly to the fertility Of the soil.
Action OF LINE ON ORGANIC
MATTER.-Lime has another i'm
portant effect on soils, in hasten
ing the decomposition Of their Or
ganic matter, and thus, Indirectly
supplying in large quantity, valu-
able materials, before mentioned,
which these are adapted to fur
nlsh. AS this decomposition pro-
cecds in the presence Of lime, part
of the nitrogen Of the organic
matter takes the form of ammo
MIA, and part is converted into
nitrates, as will be remembered
from the Chapter on Salts. But
the proportion Of either is practi-
cally immatcrial, as both arc found
to subserve q similar purpose in
building up the plant.
All Of the effects Which have
been mentioned, may be regarded
rs gradually produced in every
soil which contains carbonate OF
lime us constituent. When it|is
deficient in quantity, they arc, Of
course, increased by its addition
in the form Of chalk. mari, or lime
stone. These Substances have also
The effect of swcetening peaty and
soils, which are rendered
sour from the prcsc:cc Of too
large a proportion Of vegetable
and thus rendering them
lit for cultivation.
BURNED LiME.-Burned or caus-
tic lime has all these effects in
much greater degree, and there
'orc its extensive use as 4 tertil-
ger Of the soil. 1t should be used
cautiously on soils which contain
out small proportion Of vegeta-
Die matter. for fear that in the
more rapid decomposition which
t stimulates, it may entirely cN-
laust the soil Of this MATERIAL
f employed in such cascsitshould
,c with admiXture of vegetable
natter, that the loss which it oc-
.asions may be completely re-
,laccd.
EFFECT OF ASHES on Soils
.otassa or soda applied in the
:auStic state. or as carb >natcs,
,avc entirely analogous effects on
he soil. Thyy render the insolu-
'Ie siiicatcs soluble, by increasing
n them the proportion OF base,
nd also hasten the decay and
conversion Of vegetable mater.
The admixturc Of lime or ashes
With guano or decomposed ma
Iure is to be avoided, because Of
heir effect to expel the ammonia
which these substances contain.
his may be prevented by prcvi-
usly Incorporating the material
nth a large proportion Of clay OF
cgctabIc mould, which shall serve
$ an absorbent Of the liberated
as.
CoNpoSTs.-Composts consist Of
egctablc and other matter, heap |
d together for fermentation and
artiaI decay in order to prepare
hem for application to the soil.
n such mixtures, all alkaline ma
erials, including lime, have an
fleet similar to that which they |
roduce upon the organic matter |
f the soil.
GUANc.-Guano consists of the |
ccumulated droppings Of birds,
nd is principally obtained from
ertain rocky islands on the coast
South America. In these haunts
the heron, fiamand, and other
ea-towl, it is accumulated, in some
lstancc<, to the depth Of 4 hun
red feet. The deposit is usually
smaller quantity, but amounts
the aggregate to millions of
'nS. The material was employed 7
" fertilizer by the natives Of
cru and Chilli, long before its in
'OIEctiNn into Eurlon6 or tho |