Evening journal., 1903-10-17

year for applying lime on the soil, |
though some farmers use il early in /
the spring. IL does we'll when a green /
crop has been plowed under the lime
broadcasted over the surface OF the 4
land. Lime is procured in two forms /
for use on the farms, that from lime |
stone being preferred, but lime made /
by burning oyster shells is also excel |
lent while wood ashes contain a large |
proportion, the lime from stone being
taken direct from a mineral substance, |
the shell lime being a product of she'll |
fish, while that in ashes is produced
through vegetable sources. In all
cases. however, the lime is the same,
but in variable quantities. according
TO the materials from which it is de-
rived, though stone lime gives the most
direct results. When limestone or
shells are burned there IS a liberation of
carbonic acid, the substance being
changed from carbonate of lime 10 lime
but as the lime has a tendency to re-
vert TO carbonate Of lime it is disposed
60 take again carbonic acid from the
air or any substance containing IL in
the soil. When slaked with water the
result is hydrate Of lime, and when
air. -slaked It takes water from the
atmosphere, becoming a fine white
powder in which form 1t is used on
land. II the hydrate of lime is not
Immediately applied. but remains long
exposed to the air, il unites with the
lcarbonic acid of the atmosphere and
becomes carbonate Of lime again. be-
ing then in the same condition as be-
fore being burned. II has really re-
turned to limestone. only It is in the
form Of a fine powder, and has then
lost its power TO exert immediate
chemical effect. Lime should, there
fore. be applied as soon as it is suf-
hciently air-slased to become fine.
Lime as Plant Food.
Il Lime is not classed among the fer
ltilizers which are quickly available for
lplants While Il enters into the COM
position of all plants, it must con-
lsequently exist I'm all soils, hut its val
ne depends more upon its tendency to
hasten chemical action IN the soil rath-
er than upon its 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 10 work DOWN
ward, for which reason il is advanta-
geOus TO apply a small quantity each
year after the first application, be-
! ginning with 20 bushels per acre on
Hight soils and 80 bushels on heavyland
but even ten bushels will show some
result as lime fits the soil for the pres
ence Of micro organisms which per-
form an important function when pro-
vding plant food an alkaline condition
of the soil being sometimes necessary.
AS carbonic acid is largely generated
by the decay of vegetable matter I'm
the soil, the application of lime creates
! many chemical changes in which other
mineral and organic substances are
1 broken up In their combinations. rem
g dering soluble many inert materials
u that could not be employed as PLAN
e food but which exist in the sol
j. abundantly. While lime is not there
j. fore. a necessary adjunct to the sol
with other fertilizers. and gives bu
3 little direct benefit to a crop itself, ye
e its indirect action unlocks stores O
IS materials and supplies the crops will
3 available fertilizers. The action o
lime in the soil has been investigated
h years ago, as it has always been know
d TO agriculturists. yet It is not full
It understood at the present day how
changes soils and dissolves substance
which are not affected by it outsd
Of the soil, as it seems to play certai
parts according TO the soil on whic
it is used.
S Effects on Soils.
If lime compels the soil to liberat
it's plant food 1t is but natural to sup
i pose that the constant use of lime wi
q lead to impoverishment Of the sol
Ie With all it's advantages lime can caus
II injury if used improperly. That it wi
r, stimulate the soil to give up its plar
n food is true. but lime Is not to be con
e sidered as something 10 be used alonl
a or with the expectation of having
g. perform the service which belongs
a nitrogen, potash and phosphoric aci'
" Lime gives the best results when use
i'm connection with manure on gree
ID crops that are turned under 1t is III
Or manure or crop that provides the plar
be fuod, and not ;he lime. but lime induce
m hasty action and enables the materia
" added to the soil to assume the forl
re most available for plants. When I'll
land is sour and grown up with sorr
(Which contains oxalic acid) lime
said then to "sweeten" the soil by r
moving the sourness. but what 1t r0I
does is TO assist ia changing the aciC
4. of the soil into carbonate and oxala
Of lime, through chemical combination
the sour soil becoming alkaline b'
sr- cause the lime has taken up the acis
he which existed before its presence. Wit
to the changes thus made follow other
m but they may be rapid or slow, az
el- cording to circumstances, someum'
ss- the benefits from lime not being al
on parent untI the second year; but
en- soils upon which lime has not bee
applied for years il never fails to sr
excellent results. and in proportion
the benefits derived il costs but hitl
is plentiful. and should be used eXtel
sively
&c
It is probable that prices Of beer W
be higher tho coming winter, ana
20 there should be a profit IN cattle.
Ere may be that refrigerator beef win
;od an obstacle In the way, but the usurp
isy tion OF the market by such beer ny
bis been due TO the inferior cattle and q
= difficulty OF getting a constant supp
his of choice beef I'm the East compar
id- with that sent ready dressed from 4