Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-05-19
Lime For Virginia Farms.

No subject relating to the soil is be.
ing discussed more earnestly by Vir-
GINA farmers today than the use of
lime. The controversy is not SO much
in dispute of the well known benefits to
be derived from lining, under certain
conditions, as it is on the merits of burnt
or quick lime as compared with pulver-
lied unburnt limestone or shells. At
this juncture the Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station has published a
timely bulletin mo 1877, Lime for Vir-
ginia Farms" by w. B. Ellett) which
discusses in detail the ways in which
lime may benefit the land, when lining
may be Injurious, the relative value of
different forms of lime. how. when, and
in what quantity to apply lime, and
other important points. Directions for
burning lime on the farm and for grind
ing limestone rocks and shells are given.
Among the more important conclusions
OF the bulletin are the following:
eff used judiciously lining the soil
has a wide field of usefulness in Vir-
ginia- 1t is not a substitute for ma
nure, but q reinforcement of it. II
used as fertilizer simply, and not in
connection with a general plan of soil
Improvement, it may be a positive in
jury to the land.
Lining should be practiced only in
connection with a rotation of crops and
system of farming that returns humus
to the land
Upon all types of Virginia soils on
which grasses and leguminous plants,
especially the clovers, do not catch
readily and grow satisfactorily, lining
will usually be of marked benefit The
most striking results from lining Vir-
ginia soils, in all sections of the State,
will usually be secured when preparing
the land for grasses and clovers. Oc-
casionally lining may be an actual dis
advantage, notably in growing bright
tobacco.
Generally speaking, the sandy soils
of the Coastal Plain, or Tidewater are
benefited more by lining than any other
soils of tie State.
The heavy red clay soils of the Pied
mont are usually somewhat deficient in
lime and respond profitably to its appli-
cation. In the Valley and Southwest,
most of the soils are of limestone origin
and usually contain sufficient lime, but
the surface layer Of some Of these soils
has been depleted Of lime, due to leach
ing and the method of farming, and
lining will often give satisfactory re-
suits.
''In all sections of the State there are
areas of greater or less extent that
show little or no benfit from lining.
Whether to use lime or not, therefore.
must always be a local problem. and
each farmer must solve it for himself
The effect of lime on soil extends over
several years, however, and often no
improvement is noticeable until severa
years after the application was mad q;
hence we should not be hasty in arriving
at conclusions.
Fine ground limestone or shells are
not as valuable as burnt linz, pound Der
pound, when used for improving farm
soils; but are fully as valuable as burnt
lime when used at the rate of 100 pounds
Of finely ground limestone or shells, rs
equal to Sc pounds of fresh burnt lime.
1.-THE deciding factor, therefore. is
the relative first cost of the two mate
rails, together with the relative cost of
getting 1t upon the land At current
prices of burnt limo it would not usually
pay to use ground limestone or shells
unless they could be laid down on the
farm for not to exceed $l.75 per ton.
When ledge of good limestone is
near the farm, OF a quantity of shells,
1t may pay the farmer to either burn or
grind this carbonate of lime Many
farmers in Appalachian Virginia are
burning their own lime at a cost of 81. so
to 81 so per ton. Grinding i. ut prac-
ticable except when number IF farm
ers cooperate.
'Never buy lime, in any form, ex-
cept by guaranteed analysis"
A copy of The lime analysis law pass
ed by the last legislature is included;
also a list of lime manuf &C turers in Vir-
GINA. The bulletin is sent free on ap-
plication to Virginia Agricultural Expe-
riment Station, Blacksburg, Va.