The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-06-25
Lime-How it Acts on Land

Now that lime is being so extensively used
ON land in portions of this and other States,
we will endavor, as far as we are able, TO
point out, for the benefit offarmers generally,
the mode of its action. DIR. Randall in his
admirable work on "Shccp lIusbandry in the
SOUTH referring to lime, says: Cline acts
mechanically and chemically on soil 1t
stitfens loose soil and opens up stiff ones
1t neutralizes acid substances in the soil: il
forms compounds as well as promotes the
dissolution of existing ones inimica to plants.
But its chief object is to produce food for
plants by its chemical action on the organic
matter contained in the soil" Hence" saws
DIR. johnson, cline has little or no effect on
soils destitute of organic (vegetable) matter"
and that under its influence "the organic
matter disappears more IT: pidly than it other
wise would do"
This statement of the distinguished author
about the organic matter of a soil disappear
ing more rapidly under the influence of
lime than il otherwise would is undoubtedly
true, and therefore in applying lime to land
great care should be taken not to apply it in
excess, otherwise great and permanent injury
might result. Successful cropping for
time, will no doubt result from the application
OF lime, but when applied in excess it is only
to that extent robbing the soil of its crop
producing elements, just as the excessive or
continuous use of stimulants robs the human
system of its physical as well as intellectual
powers. There can be no doubt that the
proper use of stimulants may and often does,
prolong life for many years, yet il is equally
true that excessive indulgence in them wrecks
the physical system and brings the Hottest
intellect to the lowest point of degradation.
And thus tits, as Dr. Johnson says, scarcely
practicable to restore fertility to soils, even
ofthe best natural quality, which have been
thus treated
Now, if it be true, as no doubt it is, that
by the continuous or excessive use of lime
the organic matter in soil is completely re
moved, let us see whether it is not practical
to restore this organic matter to the soil in
the shape ofgreen crops and animal manures
johnson further says that "the fertility of the
soil upon which lime is applied will remain
as long rs there is an adequate supply of
organic matter in the soil for the lime to act
upon." Thacr says that while lime can
never superHede the use of dung, it renders
the latter more energetic in its action"
Now, as dung is composed almost entirely
ofvegetabe and animal matter, it follows as
matter of course, that if we furnish this yege-
table matter in the shape of green crops and
animal manures for the lime to act upon, the
fertility ofthe land must be restored. This
is sclf-evident proposition, and needs no
other proof Lime must therefore be used
in conjunction with organic matter either al.
ready in the soil or placed there in the shape
of green crops or animal manure. And thus
it appears that the crop producing effects of
lime depends, first upon the presence Of
organic matter in the soil, and secondly, upon
the composition and physical character of the
soil Baltimore ,SUR