The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-09-01
LINE AND HuMUS.

That most noted scientist, former
ly OF Mississippi, but now of Califor-
mia, Professor Hilgard, says the infu-
cnce OF lime upon the physical and
chemical character Of soils is so po-
tent that the determination Of its
presence alone amply justiles the
use OF chemical analysis in the exam
nation of soils for practical purposes.
The most cursory observer cannot
fail to observe the change that occur
not only in the natural vegetation, but
In the prosperity Of the population,
wherever a calcareous soil-regiOn ad-
joins a non-calcareous one. That this
fact has not been as fully appreciated
as 1t deserves is due simply to the
neglect OF soil analysis generally, and
more especially to that Of virgin soils,
where these effects are unobscured by
the Intervention Of man. Upon the
basis of labratory experiments with
mixtures of lime with various Or
ganic substances, it has teen held
that the presence of lime in soils
tend to the rapid ercmacausis of hui
mus and hence, calcareous soils
should be poor in the latter sub
stance. The analyses of natural cal
careous soils show the contrary state
OF things and the intensely black
color Of the confessedly calcare0us
prairie soils Of the West contradicts
the above assumption, convincing
even to the eye of a passerby. A ''gray
adobe" or clay soil is invariably poor
in lime; a black one, rich in lime as
well as humus. The coal black tint
Of calcareo-humic soils must not,
however, be COMPOUNDED with the
one of peaty (ulmic) soils; which,
however, become black when treated
with doses of lime sufficient not only
for naturalization, but for the con-
tlnuation Of that action which is so
well and effectively known in the
case OF manure piles to favor the hui
MITIGATION Of the litter. In the arid
regions the only. black soils are high
~ calcarcous ones. So far as the evil
dence goesslime is entitled to be con-
sidered the conservator of humus in
natural soils.
1t is scarcely necessary for us to add
here that the humus, as referred to
by Prof. lIilgard, is simply decompos-
ed vegetable matter, and that sandy
soilde void Of lime, may be greatly I'M
proved by a liberal lime addition.
Lime is very cheap material, yet
few sandy soil farmers think of apply
ing it to their lands.
Professor Hilgard goes on to state
that, taking as a guide the evidence
of the natural growth, as well as that
of the results Of cultivation, it be-
comes evident'that the amount of
lime required to render a soil practi.
cally a "calcareous" one varies great
ly according to the nature of the soil.
a broad statement may, however, be
made, to the effect that that amount
is very much greater in clayey soils
than in sandy ones, and may approx
imately be said to vary directly as the
amount of clay in the soil. Thus, in
the very sandy soils of the gulf coast
sandy lands the presence of as little
as 10 per cent. of line gives full sway
to a lime growth; If the lands are
high and naturally well drained. but
on the low pine meadows" of the
same region a very much higher per
cent leaves the land sour and sterile.
On the other hand, in the heavy clay
soil OF the interior, ~ per cent Of
lime does not suffice to produce a lime
vegetation, but .4S per cent. of lime
on a similar heavy soil shows the
characteristic crab apple and haw Of
calcareOus prairie soils.