Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-17

the 4th inst, and the Secretary was di-
rected to forward copy of the same to
the Union and american for publica-
ton:
LINING LAND.
propose to give little scrap of the
history of lining in the form of an anec-
dote: During the year 1854 1 was re-
quested to visit a farm, and tell the
owner, if 1 could, what to do to prevent
his crops from frenching. For he had sew
eral acres, where corn and every other crop
frenched SO badly as not to produce enough
to pay for their culture. visited the farm,
and after inspection, believed that the
frenching was caused by copperas spon-
taneously formed from the sulphur and
iron in the sand rocks which were upon
the surface of the field. l advised that
Mr.. G. should spread lime upon the land,
stating that. it would unite with the sui
phuric acid in the copperas and form
land plaster, while it would cause the iron
in the copperas to become red iron rust,
both of which products would enrich the
land, while the cause of the frenching
(copperas) would be destroyed, or changed
into these two fertilizers. Thereiwas corn
then growing in the field, and did not
advise caustic lime to be applied among
the growing crop; because l knew it
would injure the corn. But Mr.. G..
burnt a kiln and Immediately spread
about so bushels to the acre where his
corn grew. The corn was about II
inches high.
In 1856, Mr.. G. told the result of his
lining to a crowd of members of our
County Agricultural Society, of which l
was President to the amusement of the
crowd, and at my expense, as follows:
''Dr. Gordon is very learned man.
He writes and talks wisely. He knows a
great deal. He is very wise.
'Last year told Mr.. P. to request the
Doctor to come and inspect my farm and
tell me what to do with it to keep the
corn from frenching. Not long after
wards the Doctor came in the field, haV-
ing hoe in his hand, accompanied by
Mr. P. was absent. He held his head
high and looked wise. He would dig a
little in one place, then in another, and
raise up and look wise. Then he would
walk few steps to one side and look
about, then to the other and look about;
and then he would raise his head and
look wise. Finally he Strengthened him
self to full height. with his head back,
looking wise, and said, Tell Mr.. q. to
lime this land and it will french no more.
/ burnt lime-kiln, and spread the lime,
and by ganny, it burnt up my corn. l
made nothing. 1t ruined my corn"
A few weeks ago (some years after the
liming) / saw Mr.. g. in company with
half a dozen neighbors, at Or postofice,
awaiting the mail to bring the Banner
and UNION AND AMERICAN. l told the
foregoing anecdote to the crowd, at which
they laughed heartily. Mr.. G. said SIT
was Just that way. But no crop has ever
frenched on that land since then. And
there has been no burning of the corn
since the first year. The land is better.
l can still see that it produces better
crops than it did before it was lined"
From this scrap of history, writers
may learn the necessity of their talking
so plainly, as not to be misunderstood;
and practical farmers may learn not to
spread caustic lime on the field in the
spring, when about to plant, or after
planting it, They may spread the lime
in the fall or winter before breaking for
corn; or they may spread it on wheat land
before sowing the wheat in the fall.
There is no need of shaking the lime in
either case before spreading it. There is
no serious injury done by the lime being
in small Jumps. 1t is much easier handled
before it is slaked, and half the quantity
by measure, will make the full measure
after it slakes on the ground. l speak
from experience, having tried all these
plans. F. II. GoRDON.
GRANVILLE, Feb. 25, 1871.