The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-25
The Effect of Lime Upon Soil.

L uO EACOl VI dlulO OpOl OUl1'
The properties of lime with regard
to farming are as follows :: Heavy
soil is rendered loose and mellow by
it, and the properties of most kinds
of soil are so changed, physically by
the application of lime as to become
very conducive to the growth of farm
productions. Lime decOmpOses the
particles of manure in the ground,
and thus favor their quicker absorb
tion by the roots of the cereals. 1t
makes the straw Of the grain sitter,
thus preventing the lodging of stalks,
causes stouter growth, larger ears,
and more abundant kernels of prob
ably better quality. Lime keeps the
ground free from many weeds, but.
unfortunately, does not destroy the
so called Canada thistle.
The belief that light, sandy soil is
still more dried out by lime or, as
some say, sis made too hot" is Obse-
lete erroneous, and just the contrary
has been proved. By the application
Ct 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. POlatos raised on freshly lined
soil seldom get scrufy and unseemly.
There are farms of light, sandy soil
where lime has been applied for the
last fifty years, and where they now
intend to discontinue its use, because
the yields of straw and hay have be
come 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, and forty bushels on
sandy soil the former, however,
needs it every ten or twelve Years,
the latter every six or eight years,
since the powers Of lime is exhausted
much quicker. This would necessi-
tate great expense, indeed, where the
price of lime is high but lime in
large Quantities can be bought con-
Slderably cheaper, and in regions
where limestone abOunds it would
not be bad speculation for num-
Der Of farmers to build a kiln and
burn their own lime. The first ex-
penditure in the purchase of lime, it
is true, would perhaps exceed that
for commercial manure, but here
we must take into consideration that
the effects of the latter do not extend
much beyond one crop at most, while
the effects of lime will hold out for
number of years. In most lin e. kiIn3
we see the refuse go to waste, while,
no doubt, it could be bought for but
a small consideration if the farmers
of the neighbOrh0Od would only
avail them selves 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 coverd with ground
after some days the dIs5olving lime
will bulge the covering asunder, in
which case the covering must be re-
neWed. After the lime has been re-
duced to powder, it is then, without
delay, spread evenly over the sur
face, and Immediately ploWed under,
but shallow. In very loose soil the
cultivator will accomplish the same
purpose.
The heaps of lime, if not well coy
cred with earth, will. be soaked
through by heavy rain the lime will
he thus Stacked, and after being
spread will turn into mortar, which
only after several years will be of
some benefit. Therefore we should
not shun the labor of amply covering
the hlllOckS OF llmes 1t is not adyiS.
able to p!ow under barn-yard manure
together with lime.
BY the abOYe we by no means wish
to make any one believe that barn
yard manure is made dispensable by
lime; this would be a great orr0r, as
any one who would try to get along
without stable manure would not
need to build many barns for his
crops. Barn-yard manure, now as
ever, remains the chief factor of
farming.
First Omaha Bachelor.-I am
afraid that beautiful Miss Million is Il
little fiiUhfU