Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1881-05-12

ton, and this was increased by the irreeu-
lar and unequal action of lime. It is now.
however, we'll settled that lime acts indi
rectly as fertlizing agent, or, in other
words. it acts on elements of fertility in the
soil, but not in 4 form available for the use
of crops. Lime haSteus the decay of or
ganic matter in the soil and conseoueutlv
increases the supply of carbonic acid and
ammonia, two important element of plant
food. AS this action goes on there is form
ed, by some process not well understood,
portion of nitric acid, which is found in
combination with the lime. This fact is
taken advantage of in the nitre beds of Ger
many, where large quantities of saltpeter
are formed by mixing fresh stable manure
with quick lime and covering the heap with
earth, and after six or eight months leach
ing the material with wood ashes, by which
the nlcrlc acid is transferred to the potash
OF the ashes. The absence OF light and ac-
cess OF air and moisture appears to be con-
ditions essential to the success of the opera
tloh; and these conditions are complied with
when lime is plowed into a soil, rich in or
ganjc matter. The formation of nitrate
earth i'll limestone caverns is a familiar ex-
ample OF this peculiar chemical action. But
lime applied 10 soils deficient in undecom-
posed organic matter, produces little or no
effect. This is the condition of soils where
lime has been used freely from year to year,
without repenishing the stock of animal
and vegetable matter by manuring, or turn
ing or turning under OF green crops. Such
a condition is called slime sickness.' Good
effects from lining land is to be secured OIL
ly by maintaining full supply Of organic
matter in the soil.
Gypsum, or land plaster is another form
in which lime may be proftably used as a
fertilizer. This is a compound OF lime and
sulphuric acid In crops containing sui
phur, such as turpips, cabbage, onions ana
clover, it supplies that element, as it con
tains sulphur in the proportion OF nearly
~ per cent. ofts weight. But its chiet val
ue is in its ability to retain ANN onia. This
important element of fertility is exceeding
ly volatile and difficult TO hold, but it is
powerful alkali, and sulphuric acid prefers
it to lime, and will, therefore, leave the
lime to form a new compound, the sulphate
of ammonia, which is not volatile and is,
therefore. easily rel aimed in The soil. Gyp-
sum may be protitably used on the manure
pile or compost heap as IA means of securing
ammonia. The third form in which lime is
used as a fertilizer is phosphate of lime.
This forms the principal part of bones and
is found to Il considerable extent in the
shells of oysters, mussels, clans and other
shell-tish. 1t is also found as a mineral
called ''apatite," though this form is rather
rare. Phosphate of lime, whether as bone
meal, OR mineral phosphate, is fertilizer
which is almost Indispensable in agriculture,
not SO much as form of lime manure, as a
means OF supplying phospIioric acid, which
is used in the production OF all food crops,
and ordinary soils when exhausted OF this
have not the means, within themselves, of
restoring it by rest.-Indiana Farmer.