Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-06-09

SaltpeIer, anu now we use TIC very
same method, Or may do, to make
our soil rich and feed and keep each
other alive. But excuse me for in
terrupting you, Fred
i think you have told the whole
story said Fred. But l might
add that it is a question whether
ammonia is used by plants until it
is changed into nitric acid, and if it
is not used in free state or in COM
bination, as salts of ammonia, then
the production of nitric acid and of
nitrates is what should be aimed at
in making..composts and managing
manure and if any ammonia is
formed, we should try to fix it by
using plenty ofabsorbing matter,as
earth or mulch, or by using plaster
or other sulphates to nutrallze it.
But there is a large portion of car
bonlc acid given off in such a heap
as we have there, land that will COM
bine with any free ammonia and fix
it. l don't think all the ammonia
that will be lost from that heap,will
make us poor; it will be out of the
cellar and another one begun before
a month. We intend to fill and
empty that cellar once a month
regularly after this
Then you will have corn to sell
and to keep, Fred said Mr.. Matln.
But l want to know how much
lime you are using
One barrel of lime, slaked fine
by exposure to air for few days,
Just covers the whole heap so to
make it white. There are three
feetdeep,' replied Fred.
The fact u.s. l remarked, there
is good deal of error spoken and
written absut the use of lime with
manure. The old Scotch and En-
glish farmers, good old practical
armers they were, with no science
about them-talk of science to them
and they void ask if is was a new
kind OF manure
That they would, said DIR. Jones'
Il have heard of one of those old
fashioned farmers who,on being told
that some Unitarians had moved
into the neighborhood, asked sober
ly, What be they? Be they a
new koind O cattle 7 If they'll
beat the Short-horns, | wants some
on EN-, sure p No science about
those fellows; but they grow fine
crops,
well, 1 was going to say that
those farmers always used lime in
their composts with the manure and
plenty of ditch scourings, old turf
from hedge rows and other general
up of clearings about the
farm and buildings. When visit
ing England and Scotland, many
wears ago.I have seen the limestone
hauled and burned in a kiln, to be
used for this sole purpose, and COM
pose heaps on a farm of 100 acres,
which, put together end to end,
would reach across the farm. That
is how eight curriers' ga bushels)
of wheat per acre can be grown.
But of late, because lime or ashes
act 10 liberate ammoniu from its
solution in water or from combina-
ton with carbonic or sulphuric &C
ids, and set it free, it has been
taught that it should never be mix
ed with manure. But never is a
word l discard altogether. A mere
practical farmer who knows nothing
of the causes of the effects he pro-
duces, or of the laws which govern
the behavior of manures, plants,
soils, air, water and chemical sub
stances, should perhaps never do
it. But farmer who is educated
in the science of his business-a
scientific farmer such as DR.. Jones.
for instance-may do it when he
pleases, because he will know why
and for what purpose he does it,
and what will be the consequences;
and, knowing the effect Of the lime
will be to increase the fermentation
and to hasten the decomposition Of
the manure or compost, he will be
careful to use such absorbents, and
keep the heap in such moist condi-
ton, that if any ammonia is pro
duced, it will be absorlsl and held
securely. We need to give our crops
food that is digestible. Raw food
thev will not touch, And ofthe agent
we possess, which will help to pre-
pare-or cook. in tact-the food we
offer to our crops, there is none
better Or cheaper than lime; and l
10 not know Of any method of using
it, that is better or more convenient
han this that we are.practlslng.
Don't you think ashes are as
rood as lime 2 asked the old gen
,leman. i have used thousands Of
bushels, and 1 can show you land
hat was dressed 20 years ago, that
has greener grass on it now ma
where l have put no ashes, 1t is
| pity ashes are so scarce
ashes are better than lime, [ re-
Piled; because while they consist,
or the greater part Of lime, they
contain some potash. Unleached
,sbes contain 10 ner cent of potash |