Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-08-02
A SUIT OF WHITE.
HOW LIME ACTS.
some of Its Good nesuIts-It Is n
Suhstttute. TEcHxexer. Eor Manure.

Substitute, However, Tor Manure.
One of the most important chemical
changes brought about in Il soil through
the action of lime is the decomposition
of minerals, particularly the disinte
grafton of refractory silicates. Such
action as this would generally be pro-
duced more easily by caustic, or quick.
lime than by any otlier form. Lime
materially aids In the formation of
double sIlicates of alumina, which have
an important influence on the fertility
of the land. eouble siicates of alu-
nina may be described as silicates of
alumina in which part of the alumina
is replaced by lime, soda, potash or
ammonia.
Most farmers are aware that ammo
MIA is more valuable than potash. while
potash is more valuable than SODA. and
soda is more valuable than lime. The
double silicates of alumina. when once
formed, seem to recognize this and ex-
ercise q similar order of preference.
II q double silicate of ahmina and
lime exist in the soil and should be
brought iii contact with soda. some of
the lime will be given up, and soda will
replace 1t, resulting In a silicate of
alumina and soda The presence of
lime will not enable 1t to replace the
soda, as.the silicate of alumina prefers
the soda to the lime If, however. pot
ash is added, the soda is given mp and
potash taken into the combination, be-
cause the silicate of alumlnia prefers
potash But If ammonia comes within
the influence of this compound it will
replace either the lime. soda or potash,
and silIcate of alumina and ammonia
wiz Oe formed These double silicates
are in such shape as to be lost from
the soil by leashing, yet are in read
fly available condition for plants.
To the foregoing explanation of the
mode in which lime acts Director Pat
terson of the Maryland station adds
the following:
Lime and Potnsh.-Lime has not only
the effect of aiding in the formation of
unions of potash which will be held in
the soil. but it also has the ability to
liberate potash from combinations
to plants This is particularly marked
when lime Is applied to land containing
fragments of feldspar Gypsum is par
ticularly useful in rendering potash
available, and the sulphate o. lime in
dissolved phosphates often has an in
direct value in this way. Lime also
favors the production of nitrate of
potash in the soil. This Is particularly
true when lime is used on soils recely-
ing considerable stable manure.
Lime and Organic Lime
hastens the decomposition of organic
matter and inert nitrogen compounds
Of humus in the soil. and promotes the
formation OF ammonia and nitrate com
pounds from the same. 1t also. as has
been seen above. aids in the formation
of compounds not easily wrested from
the soil. Line promotes nitrifying fer
ments and makes possible their exist
ence in many cases that would be Inn
possible without its presence.
Lime produces particularly good re
suits If applied after using green ma
nurlng. as it acts chemically and unites
with some parts of the organic matter
and leaves the remainder in disorgan
lied condition which rapidly decom.
poses. 1t is. perhaps. this tendency to
destroy organic matter that makes the
frequent use of lime pernicious. All
evidence teaches us that lime is no
substitute for manure. but only re-
enforcement Of it, No doubt much land
has been reduced to the verge of sterl-
ity by applying lime continually until
all the organic matter has been used
up Such procedure is probably re-
sponsible for the old proverb, Lime
enriches the father, but beggars the
SON"
Lime and Phosphoric Acld-If a soil
contains much phosphoric acid COM
bined with iron and alumina which is
relatively Inert, an application of lime
viii change 1t into a form available to
plants. Lime applied 10 soils which
have received or will receive appIica.
tons of dissolved phosphates will moi
produce any harmful results or cause
a loss of the pbosphoric acid 1t may
hasten the reversion of the soluble
phosphoric' acid. but the phosphoric
acid VIII still be IN an available condi-
ton In the average soil this reversIon
takes place In any case within "a hours
after applying the phosphate.