The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-09-29
SOFT LIME ROCK ABUNDANT.

The Faddist is ever abroad in this land
and age, but just now lime is being pre-
scribed for all the ills of worn and unPro-
ductive soils. This, as most fads, has
some truth as the basis for its existence.
Many lime soils are rich and many soils
deficient in carbonate of lime are infertile.
Soil rich in lime, providing they possess
certain other qualities, are especially adap-
ted To wide range of varieties OF crops,
particularly the grasses and legumes, which
are the essentials of soil Improvement.
Lime alone will not make a productive
soil, and many soils are highly productive
without large quantities of carbonate OF
lime; but lime is of great Importance in
relation to the upbuilding of Southern soils,
and other things being equal, the soils rich
in carbonate of lime are much to be pre-
ferred Except in limited acres, Southern
soils are general deficient in carbonate
of lime and consequently an unusually
large per cent of our soils is sour and
in such mechanical or physical condition
as to be greatly benefited by liberal APP
plications of lime.
Many parts of the South are so far dis
tant from the areas of lime rock that the
high cost of transportation renders lime
for agricultural purposes available only
at prohibitive prices, Where lime rock IS
abundant the soils are usually highly i'm
pregnated with lime and there is no need
of additional applications; while those
regions far removed are not able to pay
the necessary freight charges in addition
to the original or first cost of the lime
Calcium oxide or burned lime, has gen
erally been used, but when the cost OF
the lime and freight charges cause 1t to
cost the farmer above, say $500 ton,
it becomes roo high for agricultural use,
except On certain otherwise valuable soils
which are sour, or for special crops.
Of late there has been decided increase
in the use of ground lime rock or car
Donate of lime. The burned lime is pos
sibly better for correcting acidity of soils,
bat it has no advantages which should
give it preference over finely ground lime
rock at say about one-half the price when
laid down on the farm. In general terms
The ground lime rock is more than half as
valuable as burned lime; but the trans
portation and handling costs are greater
on two tons of ground lime rock than
on one ton of burned or caustic lime.
IN eastern Mississippi and western
Alabama is large area where soft or
rotten lime rock is abundant and crops
out on the surface at numerous points,
making it easily obtainable. For in
stance. this town of Starkville, Miss, is
situated on deposit of lime rock some
thing like 500 feet deep, and along the
line Of the Mobile and Ohio railroad II
this state are numerous places where the
This soft lime rock can be ground and
nut direct on the cars from the crusher
at cost of IS cents ton, and with
satisfactory freight rate could be deliver
ed to any part of Alabama and Mississippi
at a price such as would make it prof.
table for general use by the farmers OF
these States. Here is an opportunity for
the development of paying enterprise
bv the railroads, or in corporation with
the railroads, by any individual who will
properly equip plant for grinding the
soft rock, so abundant in this section.
As stated, many of our soils need this
lime and with it in such abundance right
here in our midst it does seem strange
that a greater use of it does not rapidly
develop.-Southern Farm Gazette.