The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-06-13
M;Mhk Earn.
LINE IN SOILS.
From the Michigan Farmer.

From the Michigan Farmer.
Lime is very abundant in nature,
being found in all fertile soils; indeed,
as it enters into the composition of
every kind of plants, we may safely
conclude that it is necessary to vegeta-
ton. 1t is an oxide of the metal cal
cium, possessing basic properties
Having great affinity for moisture and
carbonic acid, on exposure to the at
mosphere it rapidly becomes an hydrate,
and finally carbonate of lime, in which
state it principally exists in soils, though
it is also found as sulphate and phos-
phate From the earliest time, lime,
either as carbonate or oxide, has form
ed an important dressing for all kinds
of land Whenever new land is brought
into cultivation, Or old pasture broken
up, quicklime should be applied, wheth-
err the soil be stiff clay or light sand.
We are better acquainted with the &C
ton of quicklime than of the carbonate,
owing to its having engaged more at
tention from the chemist, but it is rea-
sonable to suppose that the action is
similar in both cases, only much more
rapid and effective in the former, and
therefore its application is to be prefer
red As much less is required, the ex-
pense of burning is compensated by
the saving in labor Much difference
in opinion still exists as to the action of
lime; some chemists would limit its
effects to vegetable matter only, others
confne its action to the decomposition
of mineral matters, while third class
look upon it principally as a manuring
substance. We believe its value is due
to all three causes That lime has
most beneficial effect on inert vegetable
matter is clear from the advantages
which follow its application on peaty
soils; that inert vegetable matter exists
in soils that have been long in cultiva-
ton and frequently MANFRED is most
certain and that lime would in such
cases prove as fertilizing as dressing
of manure seems reasonable to con-
clude but of course, as its effect is de-
structive, and in this sense dependent
upon the presence of vegetable matter,
it can never be substituted for manure
Its action consists in reducing to an
available form those substances which
have not been already absorbed by
plants on account of their insoluble
condition. This, it is now generally
believed, is effected by the gradual re-
H. ;,3a
products, carbonic acid and water, and
possibly ammonia or nitric acid; the
nitrogen of the atmosphere uniting
with the hydrogen set free in its mas
cent state. During this progress it is
probable that various organic acids are
formed; passing rapidly one into anoth-
er, without entering into plants as
such Lime removes the acidity often
found in vegetable soils, either by de-
stroying the acid or combining with it
to form an organic salt. Were the
action of lime restricted to vegetable
matter only, it could not fail to prove
most valuable application; but its
relation to the mineral matters in the
soil is perhaps more important still.
In most stiff soils the alkalies are found
united with silica and alumina, in GER
tain proportions, mostly insoluble, and
therefore, useless. Rain-water, con-
tanning acid, might gradually dissolve
out portions, sufficient for natural
condition, but inadequate to the artiti-
cial requirements of cultivation. Lime
appears to possess the power of setting
free the alkalies and magnesia from
their insoluble condition, probably re-
placing them and, what seems rather
extraordinary is, that when these sub
stances are added to the soil and would
pass away too rapidly and be lost, by
some means not yet clearly understood
lime possesses the property of fixing
them as insoluble compounds, causing
their union with those very substances
from which it had frequently displaced
them. Any attempt at explanation of
these remarkable changes would be out
of place here but should the present
discoveries be confirmed by further in
vestigation, a most important fact must
follow, viz: the advantage of repeated
applications of small quantities of lime,
and the wastefulness of the old system
of heavy dressings. Lime enters into
the composition of most crops, but the
quantity required for this purpose is so
small, and the natural supply in most
soils so abundant, that we can hardly
attribute the effects of it's application
to this cause. From all these facts, we
should expect to find limestone soils
very fertile class, and when the other
essential elements of fertility are pre-
sent, such is the case. We are not
certain that lime as carbonate acts
in the same manner as in the caustic
state; that its application to soils light
and heavy, mineral and peaty, has
been found beneficial is undoubted. Its
influence may partly be ascribed to
physical causes, making stiff clays more
workable, sands more absorbent. and