The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-13
FARM AND HOME.


American sgriculturists VINO are uIeaoH
ing the results of overProductien' 10
know that English writers like Mr.. Card |
have forcibly summed'uP the broad vie"
ot the pre.ent state OF matters, when |
thew tell Us that quite one half OF each |
losi consumed in England is OF foreign |
origin. thst one-tourth part OF their
Whole meat aud dairy produce comes to
then from across the sea, and that al
,,ost the entire additions which msy
hereafter be sought to fill the ever-mul'
tinlyiug mouths OF their dense pOpuls-
finn must be drawn from other lands.
A" handy thing" to have in the house
is Jar or bottle OF ime-water, Pour
water over unslscked lime (the quantity
Is not important, IS only certain
amount will be slacked), and cork up tor
use. A spoonful Of clear liquid stirred
into milk. cream or bread sponge IN dam
ger Of souring. will prevent that catss-
trophe. l; also cleanse5 bottles, etc, that
have al unnleasant odor. a person VINO
needs mix. but whose digestion Is so
weak a. not te manage Il, Will hnd no
Inconvenience if into gla-s OF the lac
teal fluid Is stirred wineglass OF lime"
water. The difference in taste Is not
peroepti5e.
Ii is 2 TACT. well known by experienced
,.rs,e growers. that very rich and highly
mspursa land rarely produces grape
inst IS rich Ia taste, or viii yield a high
gusjitv of vine. The grape that contains
the m 7st ssccharlne matter will make
tbe hest wine, and it is well known that
the different varieties differ widely IN
the proportion of sugar. In Italy and
sicily the very finest snd sweetest grapes
grow on the rocky rubbish OF volcanoes,
snd those that grow in loose, rocky soils,
or along hillside covers, are often the
heat. These facts ought to teach US not
IN select the richest soils, nor to stuff
them with barn yard manure for the
crane. Grape vines seldom need any
manure, except ashes, lime and bones, II
the soil is thoroughly pulverizsd and
cultivated, and all weeds and grasses
near the vines kept out. One OF the NEST
f-uittul causes of milldew and rot is the
enniication of too much manure to the
growing vine.
Lime has an important effect aside
from its action as plant-foOd. Freshly
burned lime (known as "caustic linn"
and "quicklime''l has a strong stiaity
for csrbonic acid, so that when it and
organic matter (which always contains a
large proportion OF carbonic acid) are
mixed together, the lime and carbonic
scid unite. promoting the decomposition
of the organic matter. Newly " slaked
1;roa,,--vhich is lime united with water
has an effect similar to quicklime,
tbouph slower, and hence is better for
farm use. Fresh, uudecomposed organic
substances, especially dung, contain the
yco.t vslusole ingredient OF plant food,
nitrogen, in its simple form but II Is
very soon changed into ammonia, which
in turn unites at once with carbonlc
acid. Then when lime is brought In
contract with the mass, it at once COM
hines 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
unites with the lime to produce nitrate
of lime, and the nitrogen is saved.
Therefore, lime may be used in stables
and house privies, or in composing car
cases of dead animals, to advantage
hut if mixed with manure day or two
old. the result is a loss of valuable
material. The above also shows why,
when lime is put into 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 smmonia.-[kmerican Agricul-
turist.