The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-03-21

Ill WCISIIC dIIu dUOuC t1I00 IillCS Ill
volume.
Air slaked lime differs from fresh
slaked lime in that it contains a
large amount Of calcium carbonate.
In deciding the condition in which
to purchase lime, it is well to con-
slider that one hundred pounds of
quick lime are equivalnt to about
one hundred and forty pounds of
slaked lime, and one hundred and
seventy pounds Of air slaked lime.
Floats is finely ground phosphate
rock and may be used to advantage
on lands rich in organic matter. Be
sides furnishing lime it also slowly
furnishes phosphoric acid. If the
soil is in need of lime other forms
are better for supplying the want.
Wood ashes contain from thirty to
nifty per cent. of lime and may be
used with good effect. Cypress
ashes may be had for nothing in
many places in the State. They con-
tain aboutffty per cent. Of lime and
one-half per cent. of potash and
may be used to advantage.
Calcium sulphate or gypsum is
found in deposits in many parts of
the country. Much of the lime in
acid phosphate is in this form.
Mari is earthly matter which con-
tains partly decomposed shells. Its
use is limited to farms in close prox-
unity to the deposits since the cost
of its transportation is quite high.
1t is not uncommon for a mari to
contain both potash and phosphOric
acid in addition to lime.
Lime enters into the composition
of all plants and is undoubtedly as
much a plant food as potash, phos-
phoric acid or nitrogen. A plant
will not grow in the absence of lime,
but this substance is so widely dis
tributed in nature that practically
all land contains sufficient lime to
supply the needs of the plants that
may be grown on it.
The benefit derived from an ap-
plicatiOn of lime is due more to its
chemical and physical action on the
soil than to merely an increase. OF
lime available as plant food.
Without going into detail the fol
lowing are the chief chemical
changes brought about through the
agency Of lime:
Lime as sui ulphate has the power
to break up certain compounds con-
tanning potash in an unavailable
condition. 1t also aids in the forma-
ton of double silicates of potassium
and aluminium in which form the
potash though available, is prevented
from teaching out Of the soil. L
promotes a rapid decomposition Of
the organic matter in the soil anC
causes its nitrogen to be converted
into nitrates. This is the form il
which nitrogen is best assimilateC
by plants.
If there is an excess Of soluble
phosphoric acid in the soil, its ten.
dency is to combine with compound
Of iron and aluminium and become
unavailable. The presence Of lin,
prevents this, and is even believed
to be able to decompose any iron O
aluminium phosphates, which are il
the soil, so that the phosphoric acit
may be utilized as plant food.
Thus it appears that lime, by it
peculiar chemical properties, is cap
able of rendering available all thre,
of the plant foods which may be il
, the soil in an inert form.
' Another important function o
lime is to correct the acidity of soil
q which are rich in organic matter
Such soils are frequently so sou
that certain plants will not grow
on them, yet they produce abundan
D crops after an application of lime
2 A moderate amount of lime ais
$ greatly facilitates the growth o
o nitrifying organisms which exist o.
. the roots Of leguminous plants an
causes the nitrogen which these lit
? tie helpers secure from the air to b
/ converted into nitrates and in thi
form stored up in the soil.
Aside from its chemical action
! lime when applied to stiff clay soil
renders them more friable, easier t
q cultivate, and better able to suppl
+ moisture, heat and air to the plants
v Its use improves the texture q
. sandy soils, making them more CON
pact and better capable of retainin
7 moisture and fertilizers. It may b
. stated here, however, that sandy soil
will not bear very heavy application
L