The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-29
Reducing Lost Lands.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
The blowing of sod land should be done
in the fall and the land we'll reduced in the
spring with a disc harrow. In all sod land
there exists many cutworms, as the condi-
tons are favorable for them, but the fall
blowing exposes many of them TO moisture
and cold. Lime has been found excellent
in the fall sod land, and with the
sistance of the frost Ohe alternate freezing
and thawing of the land) the lime largely
aids in bringing the soil into proper condi-
ton for corn in the spring. All soils that
have been in grass should be followed with
corn after the grass in order to insure good
cultivation. but when lime is used the clods
and humps will break more easily. Sod
lands should be rich in humus owing 10
the shading received by the soil, hence the
use Of nitrogen fertilizer is not so neces-
sary as potash and phosphates. Any soil
will improve when good sod is formed.
and good sod makes abundant pasturage,
but when such lands are constantly grazed
by live stock they will lose fertility unless
manure or fertilizers are applied. One of
the best mineral substances to apply is
lime, as the results from its use are last
ing If the farm is then properly managed.
The action of lime is sometimes slow
hence the results from its use may not be
apparent Tor year or more, but nearly
all soils are benefited by the application
of lime when the soils are somewhat acid
This is especially the case when green
der The bacteria of the soil can only per-
form the duties desired when the soil is
rather alkaline, the condition for convert
ing decomposing vegetable and animal mat
ter into ammonia or nitrates by the bacteria
depending largely upon the amount of min
eral matter present. Glover is benefited by
lime and potash because the soil is rem
dered alkaline, though both lime and pot
ash are also plant foods. There is some
times an excess OF Carbonic acid in the soil
generated by decomposition OF vegetable
matter, and lime neutraliZes the acid The
use of lime also changes the physical char
acter of soils, both clay and sandy lands
being benefited. Lime gives good results
on limestone soils also, due to the fact
that on limestone soils the lime existing
therein is in the form of carbonate OF lime
and is consequently not capable of exert
ing any material chemical effect but when
the limestone is burnt it is changed from a
carbonate of lime 10 quicklime Moisture
them causes the quicklime to become nv
drate of lime, and until it again becomes
carbonate OF lime which happens later
after being applied on the land. 1T is in an
alkaline caustic condition and also caustic
The soil of limestone regions is the same
as the limestone rock to large extent and
the action of air slake6 lime (quic klime)
on limestone soils is potent as on many
soils that contain no lime. As lime will
cause exhaustion of the soil if used alone
and the land cropped every year, yet IT
proves highly beneficial when manure
green material or fertilizers are applied
Lime is not strictly what is termed a fer
tilizer, though IL is a substance found I'm
the structure of every plant. but il serves
to hasten the chemical action OF other or
ganic and inorganic materials existing in
soils. and thereby prepares the plant foods
for better assimilation of plants thus he
ing useful and indispensable assistant on
nearly all farms.