Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-21
DO GEORGIA SOILS NEED LIMEa

ten not be too much to apply. If a soil
is markedly deficient in an essential ele-
ment, such as lime, liberal applica-
ton of this element becomes necessary.
for the area of the land through which
the plants may gather their food is so
great the supply of a given element rel
atfvely so small and the condition af-
fecting its availability or IT washing or
teaching away from the soil so varied
that the crop may not secure SUFFICIENT
amount to meet its needs
Lime is valuable. not only for improv-
ing the physical condition of the soil
and as a carrier Of calcium. but II cor
reefs acidity, a condition which is an
tagonistic to the healthy and vigorous
development of most of our farm crops.
II also makes II possible for other forms
of bacterial life to perform their func-
lions in plant economy properly we
can undoubtedly grow iegumes more
satisfactorily where the soil is fairly well
supplied with lime than In Its absence.
For this reason. II no-other, liberal ap-
plications of lime should be made to
much of our land. It should also be
borne in mind that the indiscriminate
use Of this material may do as much
harm as good. Judgment should be ex-
ercised as to the kind OF lime to apply
and how and when 10 apply 1t. A con-
siderable interval should elapse between
the application of lime and other forms
Of commercial fertilizer, particularly acid
phosphate. as the application OF lime
and phosphate together will almost GER
tainly result in the transformation Of the
available phosphoric acid into condi7
ton useless to plants. The relative cost
OF lime viii also influence the kind TO
buy and the amount to apply per acre.
There is a kind Of lime on. the market
known as hydrate OF lime which Is use
ful in many sections because of the
fineness Of the division of the particles.
Personally. we are disposed to favor
the use Of either the caustic or finely
ground rock
In conclusion. il is well to bear in
mind the functions which lime may be
expected to perform in the soil, all of
which are essential TO the growth Of
good crops in Georgia. First. il i'm
proves the physical condition Of the
soil: second, II has a decided influence
on sweetening acid soils; third, it makes
possible the development and multiplied
ton of forms OF life which are intimate
ly concerned with large crop yields.
CULTIvATING oRRIs ROOT IN
GEORGIA.
]. r. c.. Gainesville. Ca writes: I
the planting Of orris root for a money
crop, giving the returns at a very high
figure. He says the bulbs are worth u
cents each in New York. Do you know
anything Of this crop and what could
be realized from planting same?
Several inquiries have been received
concerning orris root and il may be
that we are misinformed concerning
this Ncrop. Below we have summarized
what we know of il. II this is incor-
otherwise We cannot give you from
personal experience any. further data
than that contained below s.
Perfumery Is made from the orris or
iris root. Three species of the iris fami-
ly gathered wild and now cultivated near
Florence and other points in Italy are
the sources from which this perfumery
is obtained. The scientific names of the
three species are Iris Germanica, Iris
Pallida and. Iris Florentina- The first
OF these is the common garden iris
with deep blue flowers; the second is a
paier Powered species, and the third has
white flowers. Il is confirmed on high
authority that the first two species are
only Justification, and in fact, that the
roots OF the Iris Germanica cause seri-
Gus Inflammation. Nevertheless, the first
1wo are extensively grown, but the Iris
r1orentina appears to be the one used
chiefly for distillation. When cultivated
the iris is propagated by root division.
The cuttings are usually placed in a
nursery the first year and then set in
rows one foot apart. 1t may be grown
successfully on stony. dry soils or on
hillsides. The crop is gathered once in
TWO or three years. The cuticle is
scraped of and after being dried in the
sun is stored in a dry place for the
development of its fragrance. This is
wanting in the fresh root, which. does
not reach its maximum of fragrance un-
der three years. There is no reason
Why orris root should mot be grown
IN the southern part of the United
States, but the returns at present are
not large enough to justify the estab-
.Ishment of plantations OF this charac-
ter.
SEEDING HORSES AND MULES ON
COTTON SEED MEAL. -
F. c. s.. Athens. Ca, writes: I feed
from as to 100 head of horses and mules.
The present high price of forage and
grain has led me TO investigate the ad-
disability of feeding stock on cotton
ICED hulls and meal Do you think 1t
advisable TO do this? If so, please
49, ~ . 49, -'A -NA ASSNihS SeOSh
n this way.
a limited amount OF cotton seed meal
md hulls may be fed with advantage
o horses and mules. Feeding them ex-
-lusively on this diet, however, would
De inadvisable and unsatisfactory in the
.ong run Hulls contain too much lint
md dust to be a satisfactory food for
lorses and mules If they constitute any,
thing like the sole roughness fed. AS
you probably know, there are many ami
mails predisposed to heaves and other
affections OF the respiratory organs. and
hulls would be likely to aggravate trou-