Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-03
Green FaIlOw Crops, Animal
Manures and Commercial
Fertilizer.


sons why it does and must produce such
effects, we gave the opinions of dlstin-
guished authors, aud the confrmatory
results cfour own experience upon the
point now under consideration, viz: the
utility Of lime in efTectlng the prompt
decomposition Of organi3 matter. we
may also examine the opinions OF au-
thors with view TO showing that ex-
IRENE views have been held by many
writers. We find ready to our hand a
number of extracts from authors collect
ed by DR.. Randall in his work on
"Sheep Husbandry," work which we
recommend 10 those who disre 10 study
the system Of farming, which 1t is the
object Of the papers to bring to the at
tention OF the readers Of this journal
The views of the learned author they
will find sustained by the research and
much elegant learning, founded on ex-
tensive personal experience Of the mat
ters.of which it treats. The book Is cheap;
buy it.
Saws DR.. Randall himself-Sheep
Husbandry in the SOuth, page 6S-"Lime
acts mechanically aud chemically on
soils. 1t stiffens loose and opens clay
ey ones. 1t is, to certain extent one
of the necessary constituents of plants;
it neutralizes acid substances in the
soil; 1t forms compounds and promotes
the dissolution OF existing ones, to pre-
pare suitable food for plants and some
times produces certain other minor ben
efcial effects. But its great, its chlei
object, is to produce the food OF plants
by its chemical action on The organic
matter in the SOIL" Hence. says John-
ston Lime has little or no effect on
soils in which organic matter is deficient
Under the influence Of lime, the organ
ic matter disappears more rapidly than
1t otherwise would do, and after 1t mas
thus disappears further additions Of lime
produce no further good effect. 1T caus-
es the organic matter itself ultimately 10
disappear" These statements OF
Johnston are clearly stronger than the
facts Justify, and are liable to lead the
inexperienced TO the adoption OF very
erroneous opinions. Yet what is said
by that distinguished author about the.
organic matter disappearing from The
soil more rapidly than otherwise II
would under the influence Of the chem
ical effects Of lime, is very true, and the
same is also true of the ash minerals
contained in the soil itself. The TACT
must not be lost sight of, that the in
creased crops which follow the use OF
lime. cause the more rapid removal
from the soil of the elements OF its crop
producing power, and the process mast
be carefully watched and balanced, 9TH
wise it may be capable OF great and per-
manent harm. Does net every ply
siclan knows 1t not, indeed, the COM
mon experience that IN some cases the
the moderate and proper use OF stimu-
lants may prolong life for many years ?
Yet, who is ignorant that excessive IN
diligence in them not only degrades and
brings low the loftiest intellect, but
wrecks the noblest physical powers as
well, and speedily delivers up to death
the body and soul which 1t has stimula-
ted to the point Of absolute exhaustion
and hopeless rum Successful crop
ping by such method may be but
successful robbery Of the soil; sue
cessful plundering of posterity; have we
a moral right to do this? DR.. Randall
further quotes from Brown as to this
exhaustive action of lime 1t is scarce
| ly practicable to restore fertility to soils,
even of the best natural quality which
have been thus abused, and thin moor
ish lands when exhausted by lime are
not 10 be restored Let US here pause
TO consider whether it is not true that
if this exhaustive effect of lime depends,
as this author maintains, chiefly, if not
wholly, upon the mvre or less complete
removal which 1t effects Of the vegeta-
bic and animal matter from the soil, 1t
would not be practicable 10 re-supply
that organic matter in the shape oil
green crops and animal manures' Ii
not. we ask why notY 1t is not 10 be
doubted that long continued use OF lime
without green crops or manure does anc
must exhaust lands and its true utility
is found in using 1t in connection Win
them we follow DR.. Ran dali IN his quo
tations An overdose of shell-lime,
SAYS Lord Kairnes, produces for time
large crops, but at last renders the soil
capable of bearing neither grass nor
crain.' The same is true says john
ston, of any form Of lime. The incr ca
sed fertility remains as long as there is
an adequate supply Of organic matter IN
the soil; but as that disappears, the
crops every year diminish in quantity
and quality On poor, arabic land
which is not naturally so, but which has
been worn out by repeated lining and
cropping, lime produces no good what
ever, Anderson. Brown, Moreton and
others. Thaer says AN enlightened
and scientific agrculturist will soon per-
ceive that lime can never supersede the
use of dung, but that the lime renders
the dung more energetic in its action
That Is sensible opinion of Mr.. Thaer.
1t ought not tof be doubted by an intel
ligent agriculturist Of the present day,
that when regular system of manur-
mo ,s nursued different kinds Ofmanure,