Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-12-17
rARM AND noUsEnoLD.


farming are as follows: Heavy soil IL
rendered loose and mellow by 1t, and
the properties Of most kinds of soil are
so changed, physically, by the appliea-
ton of lime rs to become very conduc-
tive to the growth Of farm productions.
Lime dscomposes the particles Of manure
in the ground, and thus favors their
quicker absorption by the roots of the
cereals. 1t makes the straw Of :he grain
sitter, thus preventing the lodging OF
stalks, causes stoutkr growth, larger
ears, and more abundant kernels of
probably better quality. Lime keeps the
ground free from many weeds, but
unfortunately dGek not destroy the so
called Canada thistle.
The belief that light, sandy soil is still
more dried out by lime, or, as some say,
els made too hot" is obsolete and enron.
eous, and just the contrary has been
proved. BY the application of lime,
sandy soil receives the very things
which it needs. Light, sandy soil, In
which neither wheat, nor peas, nor
clover will grow, can be made to yield
quite satisfactory crops Of the same by
the application of lime. Potatoes raised
on freshly lined soil seldom get scruffy
and unseemly. There are farms OF
light, sandy soil where lime has been
applied for the last fifty years, and
where they intend TO discontinue its
use, because the yields Of straw and hay
have become so considerable that there
is no lack OF stable manure, and the
crops generally are all that can be reason
ably wished for.
Put sixty bushels Of lime per acre on
heavy soil, aud forty bushels on sandy
soil; the former. however, needs il
every ten or twelve years, the latter
every six or eight years, since the power
Of lime is exhausted much quicker.
This would Eecessitate great expense,
indeed where the price of lime is high
but lime in large quantities can be
bought considerably cheaper, and in
regions where limestone abounds it
would be not bad speculation for num-
Der of farmers 10 build kiln and burn
their owl, lime. The first expenditure
in the purchase Of lime. it is true, would
perhap. exceed that for commercial
manure, but here we must take into con-
sideration that the effects of the latter
do not extend much beyond one crop ut
most, while the effects OF lime will hold
out for q number Of years. In most
lme-kilns we see the refuse 20 to waste,
while, no doubt, it could be bought for
but 4 small consideration if the farmers
of the neighborhood would only avail
themselves of the opportunity.
Fresh burned lime is the best. 1t must
be put on the field in small heaps at
about the distance taken for heaps OF
manure; next, the heaps must be well
covered with ground; after some days
the dissolving lime will bulge the cover
ing asunder. in which case the covering
must be removed. After the lime has
been reduced to powder, it is then, with
out delay, spread evenly over the sur
face and Immediately plowed under but
shallow. In very loose soil the cultiva-
tor will accomplish the same purpose.
The heaps Of lime, if not well covered
with earth, will be soakel through by
heavy rain; the lime will thus be
Stacked, and after being spread will
turn into mortar, which only after sew
srsl years will be of some benef fit.
Therefore we should not shun the labor
of amply covering the hillocks Of lime.
1t is not advisable TO pillow under barn-
yard manure together with lime.
BY the above we by no means wish to
make any one believe that barn yard
manure 10 made dispensable by lime {;
this would be great error, as any one
who would try TO get along without
stable manure would not need to build
many barns for his crops. Bsrn-yard
manure, now AZ ever, remains this chief
factor in farming.
ENGLISH CHRISTMAS PLUM PUDDING.
Two pounds of raisius, two pounds of
currants, one-fourth pound OF cilron or
1omon.noal ono tp,pun IF suUar tNo