Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-07-13
Limo as a Manure.

raj maDures we possess, and the vuluo of
it's application to the soil has been known
from very early periods. Tho action Of
lime as manure is entirely regulated by
the form aud manner in which it is applied
to the soil. Quick liuc should be used
for heavy and tenacious soils, as we'll as
thoSe continuing fair quantity of vege-.
table matter. On the other hand, If the
soil be light aud friabIc, with little vrgeta,
bio matter in it, caustio limc would in such
ccse do more harm than good. Mild
lime ought to be used, treated with mix
ture Of oarth, and expusuro to tho atmos.
phcrio air, from which it takes cnrbonc
acid, which takes away a great deal of its
caustic properties The different circum.-
stances and conditions of soil will not allow
uniform practice to be adopted, but jugd=
ment and experience ought to regulate tic
application of all munures. Every farmer
should study his own soil and thereby he
would be able TO avoid tho misapplication
Of good manure Before the Introduction
of artificial nanurcs lime was more uni
versa'ly used than now, which helps to
account for the poor crops of clover aud the
difficulty of raising good turuips. It is
essentially necessary that supply of lime
should exist in the soil to meet the ro
quirements of tho various crops. Every
cultivated plant needs supply of lime for
the tuiIdiug up of It's structure, aud, 10
combination with phosphorc acid, limo
forms large portion of the skeletons of
the animals who feed upon the crops. A
soil may contain lurge supplies of every
ingredient which crop requires aud still
be unable to yield them to the plant, they
belus in an inactive state, as it is only that
portion Of the soi which is soluble in water
which is available as plant food Any
analysis of soil which only tells its com.
position is of little value unless it eau show
the active matter ready to be taken UP by
the crop. Lime acts upon the dormant
matter iu the soil, and performs the mpor--
iunt function Of rendering these active.
Cluy soils generally contain within them.
selves pntash and soda, and we know by
experiment that lime libcrates these inor-
gunio elements. According to Prof. Way,
llme helps 10 form valuable class of salts
known US double slicates, or ulumina, which
has the power Of absorbing ammonia from
the atmosphere. Lime ncGlralizes the
acids in the soil and swcetens the herbago,
besides ouLpiSing food for the perfect
growth of the crops. 1t is thought by
some to do wastctul practice to allow lime
to como in immediate contact with farmyard
manure, thinking it would cause loss of
ammonia; but they overlook the cotrolling
influence consequent upon the action taking
placc 10 the soil. The action of cuustio
lime upon d mixture Of farmyard manure
aud deoayed organic mutter produces most
valuable fcrtiizer-viz., t,itrate Of potash
Lime, besides being plant food aud
bringing into useful condition tho several
orgunio and inorganic matters in the soil,
also improves its physical character, rcn.
dcriDg stiff and tenacious clnys fflabe and
easy to work. However, the use of lime
renders supply of other manure necessary
and under good systom of husbapdry tho
increase of crops will increase tho quantity
of manure. Taking into account the
various functions it performs, it is one of
our best natural manures. However, it
cannot bo expected to produce its full
effects Immediately after being applied
Nusho,Ne Agricultural.