The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-08-26
From the Philadelphia lPa) Record.

From the Philadelphia (Pa) Record.
The fall is the best time for applying lime
on the soIl, though some farmers use 1t early
in the spring. 1t does well when a green crop
has been plowed under and the lime broad
casted over the surface of the land Lime is
procured in two forms for use on farms, that
from limestone being preferred, but lime made
by burning oyster shells is also excellent,
while wood ashes contain large proportion,
the lime from stone being taken direct from a
mineral substance, the shell lime being pro
duct of shell fish, while that in ashes is pro-
duced through vegetable sources. In all
cases. however, the lime is the same, but IN
variable quantities, according to the materials
from which it is derived, though stone lime
gives the most direct results. When lime
stones or shells are burned there Is a hbera-
ton of carbonic acid, the substance beng
changed from carbonate of lime to lime; but
As lime has a tendency to revert to carbonate
of lime it is disposed to take carbonIc acld
from the air or any substance containing 1t IN
the soil. When Stacked With water the result
Is hvdrate of lime. and when air-slacked it
takes water from the atmosphere, becoming a
fine white powder, in which form it Is used
ON land. If the hydrate of lime is not imme-
diately applied, but remains long exposed to
the air. il unites with the carhonlc acid OF the
atmosphere aud becomes carbonate OF lime
again. being then in the same condition as
before being burned. 1t has really returned
to limestone. only it is in the form OF Ene
powder. and has then lost It's power TO exert
immediate chemical effect. Lime should,
therefore, be applied as soon as 1t IS suttl-
cieutly air.slacked to become fine.
THE VALUE OF LINE.
Lime Is not classed among the fertilizers
which are quickly available for plants. While
il enters into the composition OF all plants, it
must consequently exist in all soils; but its
value depends more upon its tendency TO hast
en- chemical action in the soil, rather than
upon its use as food for plants, and whether
the soil is light or heavy, sterile or fertile,
there is some change induced by lime when
applied to the land. Its tendency is to work
downward. for which reason 1t Is advantag-
eous to apply q small quantity every year after
the first application, beginning with 80 bush
els per acre ON light soils aud 40 bushels on
heavy land :but even 10 bushels will show some
result. rs lime fits the soil for the presence OF
micro organisms which perform an important
function in providing plant food, an alkaline
condition of the soil being sometimes neces-
sarv. As carbouie acid Is largely generated
by the decay Of vegetable matter in the soil
the application of lime creates many chemical
changes, in which other mineral and organic
substances are broken up in their combiaa-
tions. rendering soluble many inert materials
that could not be employed rs plant food, but
which exist IN the soil abundautiy. While
lime is not, therefore, necessary adjunct to
the soil with other fertilizers, and gives but
little direct benefit 10 a crop ITSELF yet ITS M
direct acton uulocks stores of material and
supplies the crop with available fertilizer.
The action OF lime in the soil has been lnyes-
tigated wears ago, as il has always been known
10 agriculturists, vet it is not fully understood
at the present day how il changes soils and
dIssolves substances which are not affected
by il outside Of the soil, as it seems 70 play
certain parts according to the soil ON which II
IS used.
LINE AND FERTILITY.
Iflimc compels the soil 10 liberate its plant
food t Is bat natural to suppose that the con
siant use Of lime will lead TO impoverishment OF
the soil With all its advantages lime can
carSe injury if used improperly. That II wllI
stimulate the soil 10 give up It's plant food Is
true, bat lime Is not to be considered a
something 10 be- used alone, or with the
expectation OF having 1t perform the service
which belongs 70 nitrogen, potash aud phos'
phonc acid. Lime gives the best resnit
hen used IN GNuNrEtluu Win i4AiiHtN VI go
crops that are turned under. Il IS the ma
mare or crop that proyids the plant food an,
not the lime. bat lime induces hasty actor
and enables the materials added to the soil tC
assume the forms most available Tor plants
When the land is sour and grown up viii
sorrel which contains eNalic acldl lime
said then to "sweelea' the soil BY removing
the sourneSs bu, what it really does Is TO asSis
IN changing the acids Of the soil into carbon
ale and oxalate OF lime through chemiea
combinations. the sour soil becoming aka
line because the lime has taken up the acid
which existed before its presence. With th'
changes thus made follow others, but the
may be rapid or SLOW. according to cIreum
stances, sometimes the benefits from lime no
being apparent until the second year; but OF
soils upon which lime has not been applied
tor years il never fails TO give excellent re
salts. and in proportion TO the benefits de
rivei il costs but little, is plentiful and shoul'
be- used more extensively.