Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-09-01

,
" all our land for miles around, was formerly
worn out old fields, which would produce
nothing, but the application of lime unlock.
cd the hidden treasures of the soil and rcn-
derod available, as food for plants, the inert
organic matter which it contained. This, ac.
coFpanled by judicious cultivation and prop.
ciss citation OF crops, has entirely changed the
appearance of our neighborhood Scarcely
an old field is now to be found' Hon. r.. G.
Clemson, who was formerly connected with
tue Agricultural department of the United
States Government, remarks that so small
| quantity as a bushcl to the acre has produc.
ed good effects.
Governor Hammond, of South Carolina,
one OF the most successful, as well as nlc!li-
gent planters the South has ever had, was
accustomed to boat lime, in the condition of
shell mari, twelve miles up the Savannah
river, for the use Of his plantation, and m.
ply it at the rate of 200 bushels per acre
The writer has witnessed on his light sandy
pine lands, thus lined, yield of IS bushels
of corn to the re, while the same kind of
land in an adjaeuntfied, not lined would scarce.
y average 10 bushels. These statements show,
at once, the importance of lime ns fcrtili
zer, and the marked difference in the qunn.
tIty which experience has shown to be best suit.
ed to the soil and climate of the several
countries mentioned, and points out the nc
ccssity for thorough understanding of tho
whole subject, in order to o judcous appica
ton of it. 10 apply to the loose and sandy
soil of Flanders, the 200 or 800 bushels, per
acre, which the Englishman finds desirable
on his compact clay lands, or on his cold and
tenacious heath meadows, would be sad
mistake.
Enough has been said to show that, COM
parativey. large quantities of lime arc found
to,he useful in the experience of all lese
countries, where scientific agriculture has
successfully worked out the highest practical
results; but each individual must reflect for
himself upon the principles involved, and
upon their application to his particular case
It may be said, in general way, that larger
portions may be proitably added to stiff and
heavy cloys than to light and sandy localities
LtSlNct and malshy lands, than to dry and mel.
}lfSg fnsio''s, 10 deem rich ,lnam in which veg.
ctHbe mater abounds, than to poor and e2.
haustcd fields. Indeed, us the primary OBJ.
jcct of using limo is to digest the organic
substances already present, rather than to act
as food for the plant, there being generally
enough for that purpose naturally in the SOIL
it becomes point Of the first importance to
have this organic matter abund,ntly present.
and wherever this condition is fully met, as
by the roots, grass and leaves of freshly clear
cd ground, or by green manurcs poughcd in,
or by barn yard compost we may confidently
use the lime with ii liberal hand, but if these
conditions be not complied with, damage and
disappointment will follow, instead of the rich
rewards anticipated More lime, also, may
be safely applied in cold, than hot climates,
and to land subject to deep tilage, than where
ploughing is always shallow for it ia ran
that u less quantity will suffice to supply the
soil, it only four iuches deep, than if it be
ploughcd II inches. Wherever, then,
system of high culture is proposed, both the.
ory and practice suggest that we begin ut first
with heavy lining proportioning the quan
tity to the quality Of the soil, and especially
t" the amount OF organic matter it contains,
and that this be followed at the close of ev-
cry rotation of crops, embracing period of
severa! years each, with lighter Innings The
Flemish rule, which gives the smallest guam
tity of any OF the examples quoted above,
requires 10 or II bushels, per acre, at the
close Of every three years, making an aver
age of 8 or bushels annually This in
Flanders yields the best results for the invest.
mcnt. In Francc and England, experience
has indicated much larger amount
1t need scarcely be added that the ultimate
net profits of lining must depend, among
other things, upon the chcapncss,and facil
ty with which lime can be procured at the
required locality.
All these points must be carefully weighed,
if we would accurately balance the account
Of loss and gain.
But one thing is certain, that we of the
dcsolatcd South are hopclcssly ruined as an
agricultural people, if wo do not now avail
ourselves promptly of all those artificial aids
which are applicable to our case, and which
have combined to make other countries agri-
cuIturully great. The same practical wisdom,
energy and earncstness, which have made the
marshes and sandy plains of Flanders the
garden Of Europe, can convert the abused
and wasted regions of the South back again
to even more than their primeval fertility and
beauty.
If tho application is to be made to clay or
boggy and peaty lands, or to such as have
largo supplies of inert vegetable matter, the
limo should be saked and applied immediate.
ly, in a caustic state. When it is required
on lighter lands, 1t should be "air.slakcd" or
allowed to slake slowly and spontaneously, by
absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, as
this gives it in finer powder and somewhat
mildcr form, and therefore, less liabo to in
juro tho tcndc: hcrbage, but for general pur.
poses, especially when tho soil is light and
poor, it is bost that tho limo should be com.
posted with rich vegetable mould, or such