Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-06-15
GRANGER'S DEPARTMENT.
To Our Patrons Of Husbnndry.

O more valuable service IMAM laying De-
fore you the following article on Lime
and its action as fertilizer.
The theory that lime is not fertiiz-
err has doubtless kept many from using
it, and whilst this writer does not so
claim, yet he shows clearly that it is ali
active and important agent in setting to
work and controlling the inherent ele-
meuts, which are requisite to plant
growth.
The importance of its use as an as
sistant, not only for the decomposition
of Vegetable manures, but the libera,iug
and setting to work of mineral sub
stances is clearly and forcibly presented
in this article, and concurred in by those
who have experience in its use. We
therefore would suggest to our farmers
to give it trial.
ACTION OF LIME AS a FERTILIZER.
Mr. Falconer King, Scottish agri
cultural chemist, in a recent report, ad-
verts 10 this subject as follows
In considering the part played by
lime in agricultural operations, 1t should
ALWAYS be remembered that the sub
stance acts in the soil in two perfectly
distinct and separate ways, First, lime
acts as a manure by supplying necessary
calcareous food directly 10 the plant;
and second, it acts by supplying food
indirectly to the plant, either by unlock
ing the storehouscs of plant food already
existing i'll the soil. or by converting
useless or even deleteriOus ingredients
thereof into substances useful, or at all
events harmless, to vegetation.
Lime, as is well known, is required
dire city by all cultivated plants as food,
and therefore soil which is totally de
void of lime is simply barren, and the
obvious remedy 10y which 10 render
such q soil fertile would be of course q
dose of lime. Such case as this, how
ever, is extremely rare. OF all the sus-
picious soils which l have analysed, l
cauuot recall one TO mind which was
proved to owe its barrenness TO being
completely devoid OF lime.
In most cases, therefore, in which
slime acts benefcially when applied to
the soil, it does so either by supplying
food to the crop Indirectly, or 10y des-
troyiny some uoXious constituent al
ready existing i'll the soil.
The plant food which lime supplies
indirectly may be divided into two class.
es-frst, mineral or inorganic, and sec
Oudly, vegetable or organic
Tie principal members of the first
class seem to be silica and potash.
These substances, however, it should be
borne in mind, are not in any way con-
tributed to the soil by the lime-thcy
are merely changed 10y its action from
their lard, stony, inSoluble nature into
u condition in which they are available
70 plants as food. These two sub
stances, silica and potash, are found in
greater or less proportion i'll almost all
fertile soils, but in some soils they exist
principally in an insoluble or locked up
condition. if | NAV use the expression,
and are therefore Of no use as plant TODD
until they have been set free either 10y
the action of lime or by some other suita-
ole agent.
The principle member of the second
or vegetable class of food materials
which line prepares for the use OF
plants, is nitrogen. Now this substance,
nitrogen. as is well known, is an indis-
pensable and most valuable ingredient
vi plant food, aud therefore amy sub
stance which cannot apply 1t 10 plants
in readily available form, is an agent
OF very poor utility This office is per
formed, and performed very SATISFACTORY
~, 10y lime The lime does not, indeed,
add or contribute any nitrogen any more
than it adds potash to soils; but 1t con-
vcrts the nitrogen which, though it
already exists in the soil, is present in a
comparatively inert state, into form in
which it is easily assimiatcd by plants.
In these different ways, therefore, may
lime be used with great benefit, viz, on
soils which contain large quantity OF
undecomposed mineral matter, and on
soils which contain an excess of vegeta-
Die matter.
Lime, however, is useful in another
way, aud that is by destroying sub
stances hur,tul to Vegetation, such as,
for example, certain compounds of iron
9nd certain acids, which are alleged to
be the cause of the peculiar evil known
as sourness. a soil, it is well known,
may contain all the ingredients neces.
sary for supporting plant life, and yet
be unfertile in consequence Of contain
ing some deleterous or poisonous in
predient. Lime may act. therefore,
very beueficia!ly or some soils, not by
providing an increased supply of plant
food, but merely by neutraliziug or de-
stroying some such hurtful substance
which may be present.
Ic all the instances have mentioned,
lime, we have seen, acts benetclally;
and it now remains tor me, before con
Guiding this short note, to point out In
a very few words how lime may act
preiudicially-so act, indeed, that Its
Continued application may not only be
useless, but actually be hurttul. 1t Is
an old idea that lime is very exhaust
ing substance, aud that its continued
and extensive use must sooner or later
greatly impoverish soil, or even re-
duce i. to perfect sterility. This idea IS
not altogether erroneous, but it is only
true in certain sense.