The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-11-23
Use Lime in the Fall.

the best for using lime. Every farmer
understands that lime gives good re-
suits, but the action of lime in the
soil differs according 10 the texture
of the soil and the amount of mineral
and organic matter contained. Lime
is considered an alkali, and therefore
keeps the soil sweet by neutraliZing
acids which arise from the decay Of
animal and vegetable matter in the
soil Mr.. A. Poets, in England, who
has done much to attn act attention to
the use of lime, states that lime, by
keeping the soil sweet, enables the
germs in the soil. both those which
convert humus into ammonia and
those which convert ammonia into nj
trio acid, to carry on the work which
cannot be done in sour soil. The
carbonic acid being the product Of the
existence of the bacteria. it is as in
furious to the existence of their we'll
being as the impurities of a Initiated
atmosphere are to the well being Of
the high types of animals. When nj
trio acid is formed by the nitrifying
germs in the soil it unites with the
lime to form nitrate Of lime when 9TH
erwise it would be given off into the
air. In the same way lime serves to
preserve in the soil the soluble phos-
pilates by converting them into water
soluble and citrate soluble phosphates.
Also. the potash. by converting it into
carbonate of potash, both of which
valuable plant foods would be lost
to certain extent by drainage. A jul
dicious application of lime also de-
stroys many insect pests, which hiber-
nate in the soil. Lime, in its dry state
is very friable, and serves to disinte-
CRATE city lands in much the same way
as burnt earth, thus being of assist
ance in rendering the soil lighter. No
matter how fertile the soil may be,
one of the main advantages in using
lime is that it fits the soil for the
work of the organisms which deriva
nitrogen from the atmosphere. which
explains, to certain extent. why linn.
benefits clover and other leguminous
plants.
Though not regarded as entitled to
a place in the list of available fertil-
izers, yet lime is plant food, exist
ing in nearly all soils, and is found
in the ash of nearly all plants. In
the soil it sets free and renders avail
able other plant foods, also serving to
store up f"od n '.:erial in the soil and
prevent its loss by washing away No
soa can be considered we'll MANFRED
with economy unless there is sufti-
cheney of lime present to get a maxi
mum of efficiency out of the manure.
It is claimed that there should be at
least one-half percent of lime present
in any soil or one part in two hun
dred. To test for lime put some of
the soil in an ordinary tumbler or test
tube, pour in little water and stir
we'll, and then pour in little muri-
attic acid. If it effervesces freely tie
soil contains sufficient lime, but if ef-
fervescence is feeble, or is not appar-
ent, the soil requires lime. When lime
is applied it should be in a very fine
condition, air slaked, and should be
distributed evenly by broadcasting
over the surface of the soil. There
are implements made for performing
such work. The tendency of lime Is to
go down into the soil; hence it is not
necessary to work it in with har-
row. 1t should not be left in piles in
the fields. if it can be avoided, as It
may prove injurious on locations
where it is heaped. From 10 to 40
bushels of air slaked lime are used per
acre, the quantity depending upon the
soil and conditions, larger proportion
being used when the lime is applied
at the time of blowing under a green
manuriaI crop.
AS lime is slow in its effect on most
soils, the benefits derived from its use
may not be apparent for months, for
which reason it is broadcasted in tn,
fall SO as to allow as much time as
possible for it to remain in the soil,
the land being plowed in the spring.
1t gives excellent results when used
with green manurial crops, being used
on the plowed ground when the crop
is turned under, but as the soil may
lose some of it's soluble plant food dur
ing the winter if LETT uncovered, it
is the practice with some to SOW rye
on the plowed ground, turning the rye
under early in the spring. Gas lime
is also sometimes used, but being sui
phide and sulphite of lime, and being
very different from air slaked lime
it does not give the same results. and
may prove injurious If used in very
large quantities. Gas lime does not
assist nitrification, and is not there
fore as valable as may be supposed,
though it is powerful insecticide.
1t is not necessary to apply lime every
year. Some soils require only an oc-
casional application. If applied every
year the quantity should be small, not
exceeding 10 bushels per acre, and
even then it should not be used every
year on the same land except when a
green crop is plowed under. the lime
then assisting to neutralize the acids
in the soil. Lime is not a substitute
for manures or fertilizers; in fact. il
lime is used there is all the more need
for manure or fertilizer, as the advan-
tage held by lime over the fertilizer
salts is its chemical and mechanical
effect on the soil. 1t gives good re-
suits wherever used, is cheap compared
with its real value, and should be used
by larger number of farmers.-Phil-
adelphia Record