The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-06-28
LIME ON THE FARMS
USE GREATLY INCREASED IN
RECENT YEARS.
Experiments by Government Experts
and by Individuals Show its Great

Value.
Realization by the farmers Of the
southeast of the great benefits to be
secured by the use Of agricultural
lime and a consequent rapid in
crease in the consumption of that
product are indicated in the report
of the freight traffic department OF
the Southern railway company for
May. The report shows that points
turning out this product at points
on the Southern railway in Virginia
now have a daily capacity Of 5000
barrels and that additions and i'm
provements now in progress and
prospect will increase this output to
5000 barrels daily in short time,
while only few years ago the en-
tire capacity was Is barrels day.
The use Of agricultural lime and
it's .beneficient effects, particularly on
sour soil lacking nitrogen and con-
sequently deficient in plant food, is
attracting the attention of soileX-
perts and agricultural writers as are
few other subjects at this time. A
most interesting paper showing the
good effects to be obtaintd, entitled
Bulletin No. l." has been issued by
the Virginia Truck Experiment sta
ton, located at Norfolk. A num-
Der of bulletins on the same sub
iect has been issued by the bureau
of soils of the United States de-
partment of agriculture from which
copies can be procured by the far
mers and anyone. interested in soil
improvement.
The government experiments and
the experiences of individual former
ers which are dealt with in these
bulletins should prove of unusual in
terest to planters and farm owners
of the south Atlantic states since 1t
is declared that in great many Sec
tions of this territory where land is
less productive than in more favor
ed portions of the southeast, the
lack of fertility is in large meas
ure due to the acidity Of the soil.
Experiments by the federal and state
departments of agriculture have de-
veloped the fost that this can best
be corrected by the application of
lime and the growing of legumionus
plants. Lands which had been aban-
doned as practically worthless have
been brought to high state of pro-
ductiveness in this manner as point
ed out in the state and government
publications which may be had for
the asking.
Lime is not used in the place of
manure or commercial fertilizers, its
use being entirely supplementary,
and one of its chief advantages be-
ing the power which it gives soil to
retain the manure or fertilizer ap-
piled to it.
There are large deposits of lime
rock in practically every section Of
the southeast and its use for agrl-
cultural purpose has been the basis
of the great fertility Of the famous
Blue grass region Of Kentucky, the
great valley of Virginia, the fertile
country of Tennessee and Northern
Alabama and other notably produc-
tive areas. The Southern Railway
company is endeavoring to encour-
age the use of this product which
the farmer of South can find prac-
tically at his door both by urging the
erection of more plants for its prep
aration and by granting favorable
tariffs for the transportation of the
product.
President Finley of the Southern
Railway company whose Office is To-
Gated at Washington, D. c., is great
ly interested in the efforts Of farm
ers of the southeast to improve
their soils and on application from
any farmer will gladly request the
United States agricultural depart
ment to send him such literature as
may be most helpful, or application
may be made to the department di.-
rect.