The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-03-27
Limc-Its Action OH the Sell.

Lime and its compounds are very
abundant in nature. at it is cheap ant
easily obtained it has long been used G.:
manure, and yet opinions as 10 its val
ue have varied greatly, owing to the dis
similarity of soils and the manner of liz
use. Prof. Puryear, in the -imericas
Farmer, makes some very appropriate
suggestions on the subject to show the
functions of lime in vegetable growth
and to explain why in some cases it sat
isles and in others disappoints the hope:
of the farmer.
Lime is found in the ashes Of all plants
In some, it is quite large and essential
portion. AS it is taken up by plant:
from the soil only, its presence in some
form is necessary i'll all fertile soils
Calcined or burnt lime has very caustic
properties, and when in contact with
vegetable or mineral matter tends to dis
organize and 10 hasten decomposition
If we wrap up lump of lime in q news:
paper or il piece of cloth, we will find
in short time that the cloth or paper
will;not hold together-it falls to pieces
it is rotten as we say. So also in tam
ming, the haiEis easily rubbed from hides
that have been stepped in solution of
lime.
In agriculture we make use of this
property Of lime To hasten the decompo-
sition of vegetable matter. When a
heavy sod is turned under, or heavy
crop of peas, the application Of lime is
always el1icacicus. 1t may perform both
the functions we have attributed to it.,
that is, it may act both as plant food it.
self and also rot the vegetable matter,
which is valuable only as it rots. When
both these objects are accomplished the
good effects of the application of lime
will be strikingly conspicuous. The
farmer will be exultant in the result and
enthusiastic in its praise. The final is
sue, however, may abate the ardor of his
zeal; perhaps may turn his praise into
malediction. Let us see. Encouraged
by the good results he continues the ap-
plication. The natural deficiency of the
soil in lime is satisfed-is more than sat
ished. Hence the lime will cease to sup
ply want, and one of the good effects
produced by the first application will
therefore vanish. But more. Lime has
done so we'll that he thinks its continued
application all that is necessary to his
continued success. Perhaps he cultivates
his land every year, removes the crop
closely, allows no rest or recuperation IN
crop of grass. Dazed by success he
now falls into a damaging conclusion.
Again let us sec. There is no thick sod,
no matted vines 10 be turned under.
Still be puts on the lime, but the soil
now has lime enough, and there is but
little vegetable matter 10 be decomposed
bv the action of the lime. The two
prime conditions, under which the lime
acted so we'll, are now both absent, of
course the good results do not appear
and there is disappointment.
Indeed, there are cases where the ap-
plication of lime is positively injurious.
when the soil has lime enough, and
there is very little vegetable matter to be
lecomposed, it might then act injurious
v. Lime, in such case, would cause
the too rapid decomposition Of the small
amount of organic matter in the soil,
using it up before the crop is fully ma
tured. Again, we may say in this con-
nection that the mixing of lime with the
natural guanos or the excrements of our
domestic animals is always injurious.
Ii we take piece Of muriate of ammo.
MIA Ia compound of muriatic acid and
ammonia) and triturate it in mortar
with little caustic lime, the pungent
odor at once perceived indicates the es'
cape of that most valuable gas, ammo
MIA. The lime has combined with the
acid and ammonia is set free as gas,
which, being lighter than the air, rises
and escapes. Now, the excrements of
animals contain salts Of ammonia, and
lime mixed with them sets free in the
same way the gas ammonia, which gives
to those fertilizers their chief value.
Lime sometimes performs another inn
portant function. 1t corrects the acidity
of soils, Just as We use it to correct the
acidity of the stomach. In the language
of chemistry acids and alkalies are anti
podal in ti.cir effects and relations.
When an acid combines with base a
new compound is formed which has, as a
general statement, none of the proper
ties of either of its constituents. When
lime, an alkali, combines with an acid, a
neutral salt is formed having the proper
ties neither of the acid nor the lime.
Now soils are frequently sour from the
presence of vegetable acids. Soils per-
manently wet are always sour, because
the water excludes the atmosphere, and
so prevents the complete decomposition
of the vegetable matter. Vegetable
acids, under such circumstances, are
formed, which undergo only partial de-
composition in consequence of the ex-
clusion by water of the oxygen of the
atmosphere. These acids are Injurious
to the crops we generally cultivate. The
only permanent remedy is thorough
drainage, by which we get rid of the ex.
cess of water, and so the soil shrinks and
cracks, air finds access, the organic mat
ter is completely decomposed and so
these acids are no longer formed. When
a marsh is drained, therefore, the atmos.
phere itself would correct the acidity OF
the soil, but not at once. We wish to
get the benefit the first year of the ex-
pense incurred in draining. The appli'
cation of lime will surely accomplish
this result, combining with and neutral.
izing the free acids as it sinks through
the soil, and, at the same time, decom-
posing the large amount of vegetable
matter which has been so long accumu-
lating in such localities.
Cotton in California,