The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-06-13

Wall, Crown Point; Secretary, G. Il.
Walker, Bridport; Board Of Directors,
o. c. Pond, r. d. Locke, IL. Ii. Hill
dreth, w. A. Leland, j. G. Brevort,
Crown Point ii. N. Solace, q. 2. Gray,
Edgar Grovonor, Horace Lapham, John
Russell, Bridport.
Burning Lime for Agricultural Use.
EDs. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.-IIaving
visited the districts of Pennsylvania a
few years since, where lime is in use on
almost every farm, put the notes took
at the time at the service of your readers,
who want light upon this topic. The
use Of the lime is Of great service to all
farmers who can procure it at cheap rates,
as every one must admit who visits the
regions that have been SO much benefit
ted by its general application The
great productiveness of Pennsylvania farms
in the limestone districts, is owing MAIN
ly to the persistent use of this fertilizer.
The lime is very cheaply prepared upon
the farm where it is used, or bought at
cheap rates from the men who make a
business Of burning for farmers. BY far
the larger portion is prepared at home,
at seasons of the year when other work is
not pressing. The simplest method, and
the cheapest for the man who is only
looking out for his own supply, is to burn
the stone in stacks. The process is the
same as that of burning, charcoal in stacks.
The spot usually selected is the pit or
quarry where the limestone is procured,
and this is of a soft kind already broken
by the frosts, or easily yielding to the
hammer. The heap is put up in the form
of a parallelogram, about rod wide, and
long enoug ii to take in all the stone, wood
and coal to be burned. A foundation is
laid of any refuse wood on hand, old
stumps and roots from clearings, dry
brush or seasoned wood kept for the pur-
pose. This foundation should be elgh-
teen inches or more thick. 1t is sur
rounded with earth and sods, leaving
holes for ventilation about fifteen inches
square, at intervals of five or six feet.
Channels filled with dry kindlings, should
run from the ventilators to the center of
the heap. After the bed of wood is pre-
pared, the broken lime stone is spread
upon it about six inches in thickness, then
a layer of culm or fine anthracite coal is
laid upon the stone. This cum the
screenings procured from the mouths of
the coal mines, when the mcrchantabc
coal is broken and prepared for market.
1t accumulates about the shafts in large
quantities, and the miners are glad to
have it out Of the way. 1t is generally
given to all who come for it, aud the
farmers only have to pay the cost Of
freight to the nearest depot. 1t makes
an intense heat, and is much cheaper than
wood for reducing the stone. The heap
is carried up with alternate layers Of
lime stone and coal, to the height of five
or six feet, and the sides covered with
soil. The top is not covered until after
the heap is well ignited. The layers of
stone may be increased little in thick
ness toward the top of the heap. The
fires are lighted at the ventilators, and it
takes about week to burn stack con-
tanning several thousand bushels. The
estimate for fuel is one ton Of coal to $50
bushels Of lime in large stacks. Any one
who has skill enough to burn coal.pit
can prepare lime in this way. With
good dry wood failure is hardly possible.
OF course wood and good coal can be sub
stituted for culm which, in some places
would Increase the cost of the lime.
Where fuel is as cheap as it is in the vi
cinity Of the coal mines, the lime costs
about two cents bushe. If the lime
or coal has to be brought from distance,
Of course the cost Of the lime is increased.
1t is used quite largely outside Of the
limestone and coal districts, at cost,
principally for freight, Of ten or twelve
cents bushel. There would be no diff
Guilty in burning oyster shells in the Vi
cinity Of cities and villages, where they
are to be had in this simple manner, sub.
shutting brush and stumps for the culm.
Where the harder kinds OF limestone
are used, and lime is burned on large
scale, kilns are prepared for the purpose
Those who have extensive farms and use
lime freely, often build kilns in prefer
ence to burning in stacks. A place is
usually selected upon a sidc-hill, so that
the top Of the kiln can be approached
with loaded teams for convenience in
charging. a good kiln for a farmers
use would be, say twelve feet across at
the top, sixteen at the bottom and eigh-
teen high. The outer walls should be
laid in masonry and the inside lined with
fire brick, or some kind Of stone that
does not easily melt. The inner chamber
for holding the charge of stone and fuel
should be about the shape Of an egg, small
end down, three feet across at the bottom,
seven at the top, and sixteen feet deep.
There is a fue at the bottom, about two
feet square, for the purpose Of giving
draft to the fire, and of dischargng the
lime when it is burned. There is also
one hole, or two, in the sides OF the kiln,
Immediately above the flue for the pur-
pose Of thrusting in stout iron rods for the
purpose Of holding up the mass of fuel
and stone when necessary.
About cord of wood is put in the
bottom Of the kiln of this size when it
is being prepared for burning A layer
Of three or four inches of anthracite is put
upon the wood and then foot Of lime
stone three inches of coal would be put
upon the stone, and 50 on until the kiln
was filled The layers of stone would in
crease in thickness little toward the top
In burning such kiln, about thirty-fve
bushels Of lime would be drawn out at
the bottom twice in each twenty-four
hours, and fresh lims and coal put on al
the top. Such kiln can be kept burn.
ing for months, until any desired quaint.
ty of lime is prepared. The usual est.
mate is hundred bushels Of lime for 0
ton of onol With thic Laoia IF oalonlo