The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-08-17
lime As 4 FERTILIZER.
Why itsheuld Be Applied in The
Fall Season.

Why it sheuld Be Applied in The
Fall Season.
COMBINATIONS AND CHANGES.
Philadelphia Record.
The fall is the best time for applying
lime on the soil, though some farmers
use it early in the spring. 1t does we'll
when green crop has been pioHeii ui1-
der and the lime broadcast over the |
surface OF the land Lime is procured |
in two forms for use OF farms, that from /
limestone being pref2rred, bat ln2e
made by burning oyster shells Is also
excellent, while wood ashes contain
large proportion, the lime from stone
being taken direct frotn q mineral san
stance. the she'll limo being a product
OF shell fish, while that III ashes Is pre-
tluced through vegetable sources II
all cases, however, the lime IS the same,
but in variable quantities. according to
the materials from which it is deflEes;,
though stone lime gives almost direct
results. When 1mestones or shells are
burned there is a liberation Of carbonlc
acid, the substance being changed from
carbonate OF lime to lime bns as lime
has tendency to revert to carbonate
Of lime it is disposed to take carbonic
acid from the air or any substance COD
tanning it in the soil. When Stacked
with water the result is hydrate Of lime,
and when alr-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
immediately applied, but remains long
exposed to the air, it unltes with the
carbonic acid of the atmosphere and
becomes carbonic Of lime again, being
then in the same condition as before
being burned. 1t has really returned
to limestone, only 1t is in the form OF
a fine powder, and has then lost its pow
err to exert immediate chemical effect.
Lime should, therefore, be applied as
soon as it is sufficiently alr-slacked to
become lime.
THE VALUE OF LIME.
Limo is not classed among the fertll-
izers which are quickly available tor
nlants. While 1t enters into the COM
position of all plants, it must conse-
ouently exist in all soils; but its value
depends more upon its tendency to has
ten chemical action in the soil, rather
than upon it's 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. It's tendency is to WORK down
ward, for which reason it Is adyantag
eous to appIya small quantity every
year after the first application, begin
, ming with so bushels per acre on llGh1
soils aud 40 bushels on heavy land bu'
evan 70 bushels Will show some result
, as lime fi;s t!las,i! FOR the presence O.
: micro OrGan:5ms which perform at
important fuaclioa in providing plan
, food. an alkaline condition OF the sol
, bei;,. sometimes necessary. AS ear
r bon.c aeia ~ largely generated by th'
decay OF yesetabl6 matter IN the sol
r tue application 0; lime creates man.
q chemical changes, IN which other min
] eraI and organic substances are brokel
un Ia their combinations, rendering
- soluble many inert materials that conl
! not be employed as plant food, bu
), which exist in the soil abundantll
q While lime is not, therefore, q necessaf
;. adiunct to the soil with other fertilizer
J, and .iyes but little direct benefit to
Y crop itself, yet its indirect action ur
locks stores Of material and supple
the crop with available Fertilizer. iii
action OF lime in the soil has been II
. yestlgated years ago, as 1t has ai#a,
been known to agriculttrlsts. yetIt
), not fully understood at the present aa
: how it changes soils and dissoiVes su
stances which are not affected by
outside OF the soil, as it seems to pis
certain parts according to the soil
which 1t Is used.
or LIME AND FERTILITY.
n If lime compeIs the seitto liberia
It it's plant food it is but natural to si
We pose that the constant use OF lime :"
1g lead to impoverishment OF the so
With all its advantages lime can eau
injury if used Improperly. That
ur will stimulate the soil to give up
ne piant food is true, but lime Is not to
10 considered as something to be us
,id alone, or with the expectation OF ha
id ing it perform the service which
a., longs to nitrogen, potash and phospL
er- ric acid. Lime gives the best resu
20 when used in connection with manu-
NJ