The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-05-21
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The Importance OF AlkaIIes TO AgrI-
culture.

culture.
prom correspondent Of the Rural Messenger
The poverty of eur farms is owing
in q great degree to the removal Of
the alkalies; and the analysis of
vegetable matter demonstrates that
Alkalies for a greater component
part than lime. and yet the senti-
nent is frequently advanced that
lime is the basis of all agricultural
Improvement. But this opinion is
owing to the fact that it has been
more generally used for improve
ment than the alkalies, because it is
more readily obtained and the cost
is less But the good effects of the
lime are not solely owing to the de-
fciency of lime in the soil, but its
beneficial effects may be attributed,
IN a great degree, to liberating the
potash and soda that so largely exist
as constituents OF vegetable organi-
cation.
The application of mari or lime to
land act on the vegetable matter in
the soil, decompeses this matter and
renders it soluble. so that it may be
appropriated and assimulated by the
growing crops. This decomposed
vegetable matter is composed of
mineral plant food and atmospheric
plant food in a fit condition, after
being dissolved by water, to be APP
prepriated by the growing crops. /
have seen after the use of mari
spots ten to twenty feet square APP
parently destitute Of vegetable mat
ter, almost a perfect sand bank,
which previously had not shown any
snch condition. 1 heard a farmer
say few days ago, mari your land
and apply pine leaves, and the land
soon is restored and capacitated to
produce good crop. Again, by
rnarling fresh land or land recently
cleared, the abundant leaves, bark
and wood are decayed and a fine
crop is the consequence, and clover
succeeds invariably we'll, according
TO my observation and experience.
Now, this result may be attributed
by some to the use of lime, that en-
ters into the organization of the
growing crop, but more properly, in
my opinion, by decomposing the veg
etable matter and rendering it fit to
be appropriated by the growing crop. |
So if we lime or mari, there exists !
great necessity for the application of
vegetable matter in the form of |
leaves. straw, rotten wood, or from
growth of clover, peas, etc.
So l would conclude that lime and |
mari applied to land will exhaust all |
the vegetable matter, without subse-
quent applications in some form. /.
The fathers may be enriched, but I
their posterity will be impoverished |
But there are some considerations to |
inspire the hope that this inevitable
poverty may not necessarily follow.
If we apply the mineral plant food |
70 the soil, may not the atmospheric
plant food, by chemical affinity. unite
with mineral plant food, and thus the |
crop receive everything necessary
for its growth and development?
Every breath of air, every drop of
water, every spear Of grass, and ev-
cry grain of sand is full of animal
life, and consequently affords a
source from whence ammonia may
be derived and it is not impossible
the time may come that we shall
learn to get an abundant supply of
ammonia from this great labratory
Of nature, the atmosphere.
But some distinguished writer's
contend that the property Of lands
is dependent upon acidity. and that
lime is beneficial by correcting this
acidity, but we deny the fact, and
challenge the proof Acid exists in
all vegetation too numerous to men
ton. Oxalic acid is necessary to the
growth of sheep sorrel; apply lime
or mari to land Astounding in sorrel
and an insoluble oxaIate of lime is
formed, and the plant cannot grow
a certain degree of acidity is neces-
sary to the full development of the
strawberry. Apply lime or mari to
q considerable extent, and it does
not attain its usual excellence. Des-
troy all acidity, and, in my opinion,
sterility is the inevitable consequence.
Plaster and Potatoes.