The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-01-03
soaIE FACTS ABoUT LINE.
Several correspondents ask for

formation concerning bhe use Of lin
on land. and all Of them contain ~
dence of several commonly acce.s..
bnt false theories. First. lime is-7-.
plant-food or rather il is so Gonna
in most soils, and incidentally con-
prises so large a portion Of many r.
tilizers. that its application as @ 1I-,.
food is unnecessary. We have seen
soil analysis from which this co1s=
uent was missing, and there is ue-r-
always considerable OF il present
available form; all supeIplozrF
are composed Of oDe-fourth uar b..
more Of lime, and it is prominert a
puruvian and fish guanO, in Heall--
quite all manufactured fertilizers
well as IN a barn-yard manure
Lime. however, has an imp9r.--
+ effect aside from its action anil
plant food. Fresh burned lime nr---
as "'caustic lime and "quicEL.n.-
/ has a strong affinity for carboul.sr-
T so that when it and organic matte
(Which always contains q lar-. -
portion of carbOnic acid are nike
. together the lime and carb0n.a
unite. promoting the decomua-r
F of organic matter. Newly -sIae-.
f limer-which is lime with water-H..
/ an effect similar to qnick-lime. thgr--
slower. and hence IS better for farm
use Fresh undecomposed cr-arH.
substances, especially dung. cauan
the most valuable Ingredient rf a.srt
food, nitrogen, in its simple form rr
il is very soon changed into arl.--
which in turn unites at once r... ...
carbonic acid. Then when @
brought in contact with the mass
/ at once combines with the a#.
acid. and the valuable aInmu- r..
capes ard IS lost When however
the lime is applied before the ammo.
MIA is formed, the nitrogen IS ur.-
died to nitric acid, which uu.ras -.t
the lime TO produce nitrate oil liam
and the nitrogen Is saved THeraE-s
lime may be used in stables -u3 nous.
Drivies, or in composing cf-..-.- 4.
dead animals, TO advantage: har
mixed with manure a dav o. two r.=
the result is "a loss Of valual r..-
al. The above also shows u ..- r.
lime Is put into q compost. ilh.-
beneficial action in hasteuig- Fa.--
position, and why it Is nece=H a
use plenty Of fresh eaIth La absorb
the escaping ammonia.
Free acids, and those iu s--.'rr r.-
composed substances, aIe also r.s.-
taken up by lime, and many iH...
compounds. as of iron iu u.. ..--.
are rendered harmless In -.-.
insoluble silicates, OF potash etc.. a.-
cumulate; but the action Of u. r.H
break up these combination lI s..
the potash from Use as plant ..L
The above statements show .s- -.-
main action OF lime in the -. ls
making available plant food vHa. Sis
before unavailable Therefore vii
it may increase the crop yieiE -r rs.a
land, it viii tend to bring about is
ea,ly exhaustion, unless plan. food IS
added. In heavy CLAW soils. the above
mentioned chemical reaction of lime
DESTROYS their tenacity and makes
them fiiahle and porous. Soils con-
tanning a large proportion Of organic
mstter are bene litel hv is application.
Wet lands are less benefited rr .m.
than the same when drained. al r-e-H.-
OF The water. Light soils are iu.H..raE
by it when accompanied by EaerL
application of muck or other organ.
matter; clays should have t.e -lu-
treatment As the hest effects . ..
are not apparent until the ue1. r...
it is best to apply it early iu tae .....
then if the land is not rich cH.a-r.
manure OF other fertilizers put .a t..
Following spring viii help produce a
good crop, other conditions l--
equal. The amount uSed Is from
to 90 bushels per acre, accoItiu O.
circumstances. the condition of tn
soil, etc.-dmerjcaa IgrjeuU..