The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-14

anu WlIuOut TIE dlu VI dDN hlUu Oh
manure, considerable time will
elapse before much amelioration of
the soil may be expected.
| will now briefly give some ac-
count of the practical operation Of
my theory. Ny first application
of lime to any extent was 200 bush
els, mostly air-slacked, hauled six
miles, and applied to 4 acres, just
broken up for corn crop, and har-
rowed in. This portion of the field
particularly was SO thoroughly e1-
hausted by previous bad manage
ment that the yield IN corn was only
some five or six bushels to the acre;
MOI was the crop sensibly increased
by the lime. But before the field
again came IN course for cultivation,
the good effect of the lime was so
evident by the growth of white clo-
vera new variety IN that vicinity
that | "a encouraged to Line the
whole field containing about II
acres, and also including this four
acres; put on as before just after
breaking up for corn. The crop On
this portion was incoased fully 5 to
6fold, over that adjoining, and but
recently lined; thus literally pay
ing all expenses, and has continued
ever since to produce profitable
crops. Plaster now acts on it with
marked effect.
When lime has been freely used,
plaster will generally, if not always,
act promptly and efficiently; and
thus at a very small expense mate
rally aid In perpetuating the i'm
Observation-Disclosures to its appli-
cation in this case, plaster was
literally used; but with no visible
effect whatever; now, its action is
as marked on the same land as l
have seen anywhere.
Whenever lime can be obtained
at a reasonable price-say from II
to 20 cents per bushel in a caustic
state, or at half price, if air-slacked
with even five or 10 miles hauling,
it may be used to advantage on
most if not all stiff clay soils.
BONE.-Bone acts we'll either
alone or with other manures; and Is
particularly valuable to aid the
growth Of clover; for this reason, l
class it decidedly before guano, at
an equal expenditure of money, for
"renovating worn out lands" AL
though not so prompt in acting,i it is
far more durable, and more likely
to produce a good crop of clover, to
turn under. Glover, being almost
the only "green CROP that | have
ever found much advantage from
turning IN.
| prefer its use, following the
lime, and on the oat crop, at the
rate of six to ten bushels-or az
much more as the renovator may
please, for an increased quantity
will do no injury. On the wheat,
succeeding the oats, my practice is
to apply a light dressing of guano-
say 50 to 100 pounds to the acre, to
mature and perfect the grain; and
only on such portions of the field as
the manure from the barn-yard will
not extend to. BY the time the
clover requires the aid of the bone,
it will have come sufficiently disin
tegrated and incorporated with rhe
soil to give the clover a vigorous
start.
The writer has made liberal us.
of guano; and generally to profit
as to the Immediate return; but il
no case has much benefit been de
rived beyond the first crop; and
rarely was any material effect per
ceived after the second year.
The action and durability o
guano probably vary on differen
soils; and although it may general
ly be used to advantage in aid of
single crop, | have as yet no salts
factory evidence that its fertilizinl
properties are very durable; unles
applied IN such quantities as ma,
in the end ''cost more than it come
to-"
Guano should not be used witt
caustic lime or ashes; nor very 500
succeeding their application. l
may with decided advantage b
mixed with plaster, to fix and re
: tain the ammonia; and for nearly
in not all crops, it is best to SOW j
: broadcast, and pillow Immediately.
LEACHED ASHES. = There ar
!, few, or none, who are ignorant Q
this. article as a manure. AT 8 t
!, 10 cents per bushel, if the cos
: of transportation is not to