Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-12

hollow horn or hollow tail in cattle.
and what is the cause?
While lime is an essential constitu-
ent Of plants ana animals. 1t Is not so
likely to be deficient in the soil as
some of the other elements necessary
to successful crop production. Lime,
however occurs chiefly in the form of
carbonate in such materials as lime
stone, marble, chalk. mari and oyster
shells. AS much Of the soil in Geor-
gia is not of a limestone origin. it
is more or less likely to be deficient in
this element, and lime can often. there
fore, be applied with advantage es-
pecially under legumes and other crops
which make considerable demands on
this element of plant food. Lime may
also be applied to advantage on any
soil which is acid. The chief effect
Of lime on land is to alter the texture
OF heavy clay soils by making them
less adhesive and easier to work; on
light soils and those of a sandy nature.
IL has the opposite effect, binding the
particles together. This may be term
ed the mechanical effect Of lime. Lime
also exerts a chemical influence on the
soil. setting free certain potash COM
pounds which are probably not in con-
dition to be dissolved in water, and
are Therefore not readily available to
plants. 1t further aids in the decom-
position of vegetable matter in the
soil and corrects acidity. 1t also has
a favorable influence on certain forms
Of microscopic life which are useful
to growing crops, such as the bacteria
that give legumes the power OF gath
ering nitrogen from the air. These
forms Of bacteria are essential to the
welfare Of leguminous crops and they
can not develop advantageously in an
acid soil. Therefore, lime is Of great
benefit when used on such soils.
From the foregoing reasons 1t appears
that lime may often be useful on our
soils, but should not be used to the ex-
clusion OF commercial fertilizers since it
only supplies one element of plant food,
and that is not so likely to be deficient
as a general rule as nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash. There is no objection,
however, to using lime on land intended
for wheat 1t may be applied as a top
dressing, and the best form in which to
purchase ii is in the caustic or biting
condition. We would apply lime on land
intended for wheat at the rate of 1000
to 1000 pounds per acre, broadcasting 1t
over the surface and working 1t in with
harrow. The lime should be applied a
couple Of weeks before the wheat is to
De seedeO. linen the tertilizer you desire
to use may be scattered over the land and
the wheat sown.
1t is not so essential to use lime on cot
ton as with many other crops, but there
is no objection to using it as suggested
for wheat, especially on land that has
been cultivated for a long time and is
likely to be acid on that account. We
would call attention to the fact, however,
that lime must not be used on cotton to
the exclusion of other fertilizers.
/ There is no such thing as hollow horn
or hollow tail in cattle. When the ami
mails appear to be sick 1t is due to some
disarrangement Of the digestive functions
or the presence Of a disease. This is
shown by the fact that when animals are
treated by the methods so generally in
vogue for hollow horn or hollow tail they
frequently get better. As a rule, they
do not eat much for several days, and
sometimes various medicines are given
which tend to correct indigestion, which
is frequent cause of indisposition In cat
tie, and it is thought that boring the horn
and splitting the tail and inserting salt
has effected a cure when 1t is due alto
gether to something else.