Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-19
LIME AsAFERTILIZEB,


save in his own country, is the scriptu-
rAl enuncistion of truth apph-
cable to inanimate things as we
as to prophets. Whatever is common or
cheap is regarded as of but little intrinsic
worth, while that which is costly and
uncommon is sought after with eagerness.
1t must be for this reason that the cheap
est and best fertilizer within our reach is
90 much neglected.
Lime acts in two ways as fertilizer.
1. Mechanically;
2. By working chemical changes il the
soil
Among the mechanical effects of lime
may be mentioned the thorough puiveri-
cation of the soil upon which it is spread.
1t decomposes with rapidity all organic
tissues, and is especially valuable when
large quantity of vegetable matter is in
termixed with the soil, promoting the
slow formation of nitric acid, with which
it unites, forming nitrate Of lime, which
being very soluble, is easily taken up by
the roots of the plant, and produces 8
healthy and vigorous growth. 1t pro-
NOTES also the decomposition of iner-
ganic matter and prepares 1t for sssimila-
ton by plants. Its chemical effects are
due TO its Alternative properties. In sour,
swarpy lands it is especially valuable,
forming combinations with the acids and
producing compounds sluable as plant
food. With sand it forms a silicate Of
lime, which possesses great fertilizing
properties, as any farmer may ascertain
by observing the luxuriant growth in
duced by spreading the plaster or mortar
of brick well upon the soil. Very many
soils possess copperas, or sulphste OF
iron, in such abundance that NO
vegetation can grow. If upon such soils
lime is put, the sulphate of lime or gyp-
sum is formed, and the.pernicious effects
of the ccpparss are replaced by fertiliz-
ing compound.
That lime is necessary to the vigorous
growth of plants may be inferred from
the fact that red clover, which is our
cheapest and best fertilizer, will absorb
over one hundred pounds per acre; wheat
twelve; potatoes sixty and turnips about
one hundred and two pounds.
The history of the use of lime upon
the soils of the Atlantic coast is one of
deep interest to the farmer. Forty years
ago most of the farms in Maryland were
wholly improbable to their owners. The
weld of wheat per acre did not exceed
five bushels; corn and tobacco did moi
pay for the cost of production; and as
for the grasses no one thought of engag-
ing in their culture. The agricultural
condition of the State was alarming.
Many of the small farmers deserted their
homes and resorted to the fisheries for sup
port. The larger planters eked out a
scanty support by the increase of their
negro property, and the productions o.
the State were rapidly diminishing. About
the time the ag-iculturist interest haC
reached its lowest ebb, an ole
German farmer from New Yorl
bought a small piece of GROUND
on the eastern shore and begun immedi
ately to treat it with lime and mari, o.
rather with the lime made of mari. Hi
crops were soon doubled, then trebled
and instead of five bushels of wheat pc
acre he soon obtained fifty. The farm
ers in the neighborhoOd caught the infec
ton, and in short time comparatively
sterile tract became highly productive
The demand for lime increased enormous
ly, and hundreds of barges were ses ados
on the Potomac TO supply the farmers
Land went up in few years from eigh
and ten dollars 70 one hundred dollars pc
acre. Many of the swsmps and Low
lands Were reclaimed, and so great wa
the revolution produced by this agent tina