The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-09
Lining Soils.

Lime is a necessary plant food but be-
ing far less often deficient in soils than
nitrogen, phosphor.c acid or potash. it does
not receive like attention from farmers,
especially as such fertilizers as acid phos-
phate, bone meal and ashes contain it in
.arge amounts says bulletin of the Ten
nessee Experiment Station.
Chemical analysis shows that, while
lime accumulates in the soils of very dry
regions, 1t teaches out OF the soils of a
moist climate. Soils derived largely from
lime rocks are often poor in ime as is
proven both by analysis and by practical
experience
This article has special reference to COM
mon quick lime. which is generally easy
to get and the most efficient form when
properly applied. There are at least four
important conditions, under any one of
which highly beneficial results would be
expected to follow its use-frst. when a
soil is deficient in its supply of lime for
plant food; second, when there are abund-
ant supplies of nitrogen, potash and phos-
phoric acid in the soil, bur so locked up
as to be largely unavailable for plant use;
third, in case of sour or acid land; and,
fourth lime acts strongly to tighten stitf
and heavy soils.
Chemically, the chief results of lining
are the changing of unavailable plant
food through avilab.e and the neu-
Trailing of injurious acids. BY hold
ing the finer particles together lime makes
compact soil flocculent and porous, and
thus counteracts tendencies to bake and
to dry out. II also prevents the excess
sive teaching of loose soils. Lime nour-
ishes, also, some of the most useful soil
bacteria while il is destructive 90 injuri-
Gus insects, fungi etc.
Among the evil effects of lime are its
tendency to set free ammonia, to make
some soils 100 open. and, as an exception
to that stated above it is said to nour sh
the organism which produces scabby po-
tatoes. Soils are often found. too, on
which ii produces little change particu-
iarly those that have been wei dressed
with phosphates.
As It's merits usually far overbalance it's
dement's, every farmer would do well to
test 1t under such conditions that lis true
effect can be plainly seen-such as by lin
ing one part OF a uniform field and by
leaving the other unlimed, both parts re-
ceiving neither different treatment nor
other fertilizer. For this test wheat, oats,
cowpeas and cover give good indications.
The amount applied depends on the kind
of soil, whether heavy or light, rich or
poor. For a heavy, clayey soil, or for
very rich soil. seventy 90 eighty bushels
per acre is a reasonable amount. For
very light and for rather poor land, TWEEN
ty to thirty bushels are sufficient at the
outset. The humus supply in such land
should be increased by stable manure.
cowpeas, or the like or the lime may do
harm As many as 300 bushels to the acre
have been used with advantage on very
Nstiff ciey, while, as a rule. very poor land
should not be lined. II is well to bear in
mind that the chief action of lime is to
improve the mechanical condition of soils,
and is therefore to be applied by the ton,
ra ther than bv the pound Forty to fiftV
bushels per acre IS given as an average
amount which, if we allow eighty-five
pounds to the bushel of unslaked lime. is
one and three-quarters to two and one
quarter tons
Immediately after burning, lime has the
composition calcium oxide, which readily
unites with water to form calcium by
drate or slaked lime. the best form for
general application. When exposed, this
slaked lime slowly combines with the car
bonic acid of the air, forming the same
compound as in the limestone before burn
ing, but in very fine state of division.
AS this is far less energetic than slaked
lime, the following method of application
is recommended: Freshly burnt lime is
put In heaps at convenient distances for
distribution forty pounds, twenty-one feet
apart each way, would give two tons to
the acre. To prevent the ready access of
air, these heaps should be covered with
soil. II the ground be moist the lime will
fall to a fine powder In a few hours; IL
it be a dry time. a little water can be
used. Just as soon as 1t is slaked to
powder, It should be spread and plowed
or preferably. narrowed under 1t Is i'm
portant that the day for spreading be
dry to prevent the formation of Jumps.
AS lime frees ammonia and also renders
soluble phosphoric acid insoluble again.
care should be taken not to apply it at