The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-02-14
FARM AND HOME.


EAhM HtNNA-
II msy afford a crumb of comfort to
American agriculturists who are dread.
ing the results of overproductien, to
know that English writers like Mr.. Card
have forcibly summed.up the broad view
of the present state of matters, when
they tell us that quite one-half of each
Loaf consumed in England is Of foreign
origin; that one-fourth part of their
whole meat and dairy produce comes to
them from across the sea, and that al
most the entire additions which may
hereafter be sought to fill the ever-mul-
tiplying mouths of their dense popula-
ton must be drawn from other lands.
A handy thing" to have in the house
isa IA or bottle OF lime-water. Pour
water over unslacked lime (the quantity
is 10. important, IS only certain
amount will be slscked), and cork up for
use. A spoonful of clear liquid stirred
ilto milk, cream or bread sponge in dan
ger of souring, will prevent that catas-
trophe. 1t also cleanses bottles, etc, that
have an unpleasant odor. A person who
needs milk, but whose digestion is so
weak as not to manage it, will find no
Inconvenience If into glass of the lac
teal fluid is stirred wineglass of lime
water. Tue difference in taste is not
perceptible.
II is fact, well known by experienced
gra2e growers, that very rich and highly
MANFRED land rarely produces grape
that is rich in taste, or will yield high
quality Of vine. The grape that contains
the m 9st saccharine matter will make
the best wine, and it is we'll known that
the different varieties differ widely In
the proportion of sugar. In Italy and
Sicily the very finest and sweetest grapes
grow on the rocky rubbish of volcanoes,
and those that grow in loose, rocky soils,
or along hillside covers, are often the
best. These facts ought to teach us not
to select the richest soils, nor to stuff
them with barn yard manure for the
grape. Grape vines seldom need any
manure, except ashes, lime and bones, il
the soil is thoroughly pulverized and
cultivated, and all weeds and grasses
near the vines kept out. One of the most
fruitful causes of milldew and rot is the
application of too much manure to the
growing vine.
Lime has an important feet aside
from its action as plant-food. Freshly,
burned lime (known as "caustic lime'i
and quicklime''l has strong affinity
for carbonic acid, so that when it and
organic matter (which always contains q
large proportion of carbonic acid) are
mixed together, the lime and carbonic
acid unite, promoting the decomposition
Of the organic matter. Newly "slaked
Eme"--which is lime united with water
--has an effect similar to quicklime,
though slower, and hence is better for
farm use. Fresh, undecomposed organic
substances, especially dung, contain the
most valuable ingredient of plant-food,
nitrogen, in its simple form but it is
very soon changed into ammonia, which
in turn unites at once with carbonic
acid. Then when lime is brought in
contract with the mass; it at once COM
bines with the carbonic acid, and the
valuable ammonia escapes and is lost
When, however, the lime is applied
before the ammonia is formed, the
nitrogen is oxydized to nitric acid, which
nnites with the lime to produce nitrate
of lime, and the nitrogen is saved.
Therefore, lime may be used in stables
and house pIivies, or in composing car
cases of dead animals, to advantage
but ii mixed with manure a day or two
old, the result is a loss of valuable
material. The above also shows why,
when lime is put into a compost, it has
such beneficial action in fastening de-
composition, and why it is necessary to
use plenty of fresh earth to absorb the
escaping ammonia.-[ american Agricul-
turist.