The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-23
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The Use of Lime on Old Grass Lands.

Mr. EditOr,-I have been requested by
friend to give my experience Oh the use OF
lime on lands generally, aud more particu
Iarly on old grass lands, worn out, or which
fail to produce grass well.
[ have written and spoken so much in Ia
vor Of lining land which is not calcareous,
that | did not think | should ever be called
on to say anything more on the subject
However, will repeat what have said
hundred times. If the laid is deficient In
lime, it cannot be productive in grain, or,
grass, and you cannot go amiss in lining it
In Tide water Virginia, all the lands are
deficient in lime, more or less, and when lime
is applied they become productive in grain
and grass. The effect on the white clay, or
white sand lands of Tide-wa Virginia,
is to make plaster act upon them, whereas,
before lining, plaster had no effect. Mr..
Rufin's theory was, that they were acid
lands, and the acid took up the lime in the
plaster (Which is sulphate of lime and de-
composed it, and prevented the action of the
plaster. My experience goes to confirm his
theory. made many experiments on the
white lands, both clay and sand, of our coun
try, with plaster before lining, without any
effect; but after lining literally, the plaster
acted we'll Our red lands, even gals and
hil-sides worn out, were Immediately bene-
flied by plaster before lining, but not so the
white lands. If plaster fails to act on clio
YER, corn, or oats, it is an evidence that the
land wants lime; and old worn out grass
lands are benefited by lime, and rendered
good plaster land again. My experience is
that ashes on old worn out grass land, is the
best manure you can apply. Many years
ago had a standing pasture; 200 acres
1t was started in pretty good clover, and
with bushel of plaster applied every year,
it was good pasture, and supported 100
head of cattle, 100 of sheep, and, 100 or
more hogs, to the 200 acres, for eight or
ten years, but it gradually failed and put
up 10 broom-straw, and ] had to plough it
up and put it in corn. | was in the habit
of applying all the ashes of the quarters on
the standing pasture, and the grass, white
clover and green-sward on those places, kept
under the broomstraw and made good graz
ing, as far as the ashes extended, and no
further. | have no experience in lining old,
worn out grass lands, further than the use OF
sold house, as it is called in Virginia which
is in fact, nothing but lime. sold house .
is the remains of an old brick building OF
brick chimney, pulled down, and the rub
Dish, which is lime and ashes, is the very best
top dressing for old grass lands in the world
and | have no doubt that lime in any shape
will have the same effect upon old worn oul
grass. | have tried often, old house or
my standing pastures, with decided good eff
feet, even to eat out broomstraw, and why
should not lime benefit old worn out grass
lands in the mountain country? Mr.. Rufin
in bis book on "Calcareous Manures," tc
which refer my friend who asked me to
write piece on lime, says that broomstraW
is an evidence of acid in the land, as wei
. as sorrel and PINES, and other acid plants
and know that "old house" which is moth
ing but lime and sand, will benefit grass
old or young grass either. So | advice the
farmers in the mountain country to use lime
freely on their worn out grass lands. MIR
Nat. Burwell, of Roanoke county, my rela
ton, used lime with very good effect on hi
plantation near Salem, although his lands
were limestone lands. And in Europe they
use lime on their limestone lands with gooC
effect, and why should not our limestone
lands be also benefited by the use of it?
: know that there is an idea with some tina
limestone lands are not benefited by the u.s.
of lime, but it is certainly mistake.
4 write this at the request of a friend
and will be obliged to you to insert it in you
next number. HILL CARTER.
Shirley, June 7th, 1872.
NoTE.-As to the quantity of lime per
acre, that will depend upon the farmer
purse; from 25 bushels to 100 bushels, i
} our rule in Tide-water Virginia. The farm
ers in Pennsylvania use lime on their lime
stone lands in the valley with good effect
II. G.
, Southern Planter and Farmer