The southern sentinel., 1886-01-22
Franklin n. c.. Dec. srd., 1886.

the use of lime in agriculture. will state
a few pertinent facts, which must suffice
Tor the present, instead of an elaborate
disquisition setting forh all the Offices
which lime performs in furnishing food.
In the first place, all alluvial soils contain
more or less vegetable matter, (some OF
them in great excess and so do diluyial
eaiths likeaies. Much OF this vegetable
excess in Tie form Of silicates, that is. in
an Insoiud.e condition. The same may
De said Of at least a portion of the sandy
or gritty matter present in these alluvial
add dilnval soils, woieh exists az miner
III silicates. Veetabie matter in an in
soluble condition is worthless, rs a plant
food. 1t must first be reduded to a SOL
uble condition before it can be used. and
enter into plant structure. The same is
true of mineral silicates. Now the de-
composition of these respective silicates
by atmospheric agencies, and freezing is
very slow, especially in low Hat coun-
Try, where there is large accumulation of
water upon the surface; aud, but littls
freezing. Indeed, in fiat country.
where there is bur little natural Drainage.
and where copious rains fall through the
tall and winter months there is much
stagnant water, which passes away main-
ly by evaporation. During its stay upon
and about the sur.ee, this s;agnant water
Is constantly forming new silieatess with
fresh vegetable matter, besides genera
ting ard leaving in tne soil vas: amount
OF wicked. acrid matter, rs detrimental
to healthy pant food and visor, as mala-
ria is to the human food and vigorous
health. The most economical for these
evils, which tell with such fatal effect up-
on fbe success of agriculture is lime. Il
attacks and decomposes. both tie vese-
table aod mineral silicaies. TIE first
beneficial result ofIhis process of decom-
position is that soluble silica is thereby |
furnished for the structure and develop
mcnt OF vigorous aud healthy plant.
without which there can be no good and
sound fruitage. AS well, you might ex-
pect sound aud healthy offspring from
hereditary ccnsumptive parents. as per-
fect fruitage from sickly and partially
s.lntured plants, Or for that Inaftcr rrees r
likewise. Now having the silica reduced
to condition in which it can be appre-
ciated by natural laws to the structure
and development Of healthy and well
'natured plants. the same process Of de-
composition effected by the lime, fur
lishcs the vegetable and mineral matter
-or ths formation and development of the
ruit. will give you one example of
low lime acts In preparing plant food in
ldditiod to that already mentioned. The
decomposition Of vegetable fiber and !
woody and animal matter generates am
nonia, and if sulphnric acid exists in I
ne damp huinus soils as ii most likely '
locs, IL combines with the volatile am
aon'a forming. instead of a, volatile gas {
0 be carried away by the winds, sulphate ],
4 ammonia "A soluble salt to be appro- Q
riaied as plant food. Again portion li
the sulphuric acid combined with the q
me forming sulphate of lime (gypsum1 "
mother soluable substance in produce =,
We soil. A portion of nitrogen libera- +, +,
ID by the vegetable decomposition, will 81
doubt pass by legi.ament process e
ito nitric acid, which. combining with = =
le P tash of the decomposed vegetable b. b.
ber, thereby forming nitrate of potash, in
1other soluable substance in successful ly
sriculture. might pursue this line of " "
lustration much further, but you see vi
ON what l have said that while freshly tl
,rned line properly applied, neutrali- p'
s the acidiv of the soil and destroys 10
c poison Of the acid elements left from
agnant water, it Is a grand workers.
'tent agent Incorporating from material, Li
herwise poisonous 10 plant vigor and m
e, a large supply of the most healthy II
q invigorating plant food. III
The application Of lime in agriculture, pn p1
pcnds greatly upon the character and a.
nditions Of the land. 1t Is proper to III
Y, however, that 1t should not be ap- -,
led TO spring crops, but should be ap- y;
led TO the land during the fall season, he
owing it the winter months to prepare
ID for the succeeding crops. In the vi
e OF small grain, rye. wheat and win
oats, it should be applied immedi- to
'ly-after seeding, broad cast, at the th,
9 offrom ten 10 twenty bushels per Ca
e.. While these cereals remain sta u
nary during winter the lime repels ma ma
sonous and unhealthy elements from pls
'ut the roots keeping them healthy, sae
ides prepacing healthy nutriment TO -. ssn
appropriated BY them in the spring III,
with. ! have long believed that the gr:
ease In small grain and cotton known
Tust. is'chieiiy due to the acid elements ,as nns
in the soil from stagna:ed water, and the
{ the best remedy against 1t is con- con