Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-03-08
LINING THE SOIL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

leaves lime, only, unsupplied and
evidently in most cases lacking. Such
method would be like running an
engine with plenty of fuel and water
supply, but without oil. Without
oil of course, an engine would soon
wear out and no amount of fuel and
water could suffice.
Chemical analysis shows a very
large amount of plant food, both
available and unavailable, mostly un-
available, that is, nitrogen, phosphor-
ic acid and potash in most soils. in
fact, as much as would be required By
the plant for good many years, in
some extreme cases hundreds of
years. If this is so we might ask
why the plants don't get hold of it.
Soils need oiling, so to speak. This
oil would be whatever it lacks for
available plant food or soil rectifiers,
stimulants or conditioners if you are
pleased to so call lime (strictly a
plant food in a small way only
and probably other things. Of the
unavailable plant foods, some are
naturally so by insufficient decomposi-
tion Of fine rock particles, the original
rock of which contained potash or
phosphorus, or both; and some are
rendered so by improper condition of
soil, as the presence of acid, too high
or too low water contact or the lack
of the presence of air in the soil on
account of being too soggy or COM
pact. Plenty of humus in the soil
and lime to certain degree regulates
to quite an extent at least, the sup
ply of soil water, and air. AS the
three plant foods, nitrogen, phosphor
ic acid and potash are generally sup
piled quite literally and four other
mineral plant foods mentioned above
are plenty in most soils. then humus
and lime must be the oils to keep
the soil running smoothly. If most
soils are more or less sour in the
eastern part of our country, as scien-
lists claim they are, then plants are
disenabled, in proportion to the soil
acidity to get hold of and assimilate
a required amount of the otherwise
available plant food. Of course it is
a we'll known fact that not nearly all
the pant foods in the different soils as
shown by analysis are available and
will exceedingly slowly become avail
able,
All vegetable matter contains more OF
less starch and sugar, and starch with
warmth and moisture turns to sugar,
sugar in turn to acid. Without enough
lime in the soil to neutralize this acid
all decaying or partially decayed
vegetable and animal matter becomes
picked or preserved to the extent Of
the acid present. Therefore a portion
at least Of the plant foods contained
in this partially decayed matter is
unavailable.
Whereas the plant is unable to as
simulate enough phosphoric acid and
potash in land more or less sour, it
fails to utilize as much available nitro
gen. Consequently that most soluble
and expensive of all plant foods will
But lime combined with nitric acid,
decomposition of all vegetable and
animal matter and from a calcium
nitrate which does not leach out Of
the soil to any extent.
Years ago when the land was
cleared of the primeval forests it
abounded in vegetable matter in all
stages of decay and especially when
yet uncleared of these forests and
rootlets almost entirely eliminated the
teaching Of plant food from the soil.
This condition also, rendered of al
most no account, all washing off at
the surface. Why should not the rains
and SHOWS of fifty to two hundred
summers and winters leach from our
soil very much lime, for we all know
water will carry some lime in suspen-
sion Some also must have been
carried off at the surface, but much
more, no doubt, has been carried
down to subterranean streams. This
is manifest in our spring waters. Our
soil is constantly being turned over
and over and left bare at nearly all
seasons for the heavy rains and melt
ing SHOWS to wash away as we'll as.
leach down In suspension a certain.
amount Of plant food and lime each,
year, until practically all parts Of QUE
soils have been left at some time ex-
posed to these washing. Influences.
But We have taken great pains to re-
place plant food nitrogen, phos--
phorus and potash) thus leached ard
washed away. But have you ever
thought of the lost lime? II you have
what have you done to conserve It?
Aye, nothing. Contrawise you have
dosed 1T with acid phosphate, of which
most fertilizers contain a considerable
portion. Acid phosphate is all right
il lime is placed there to correct it.
Consider, also the acid. going into our
soils from ensiled cora. The animal
body has no use for that acid. S5Iage
is all right. if you have lime. Muriate
of potash used in most fertilizers
creates acid in the soil. Never. mind,
! lime it. In addition, to correcting soil
acidity, and conserving plant food, it
will unlock by chemical action som e
phosphoric acid and potash, which is
otherwise unavailable.
Joseph Harris, a prominent seedsmas
of New York state in his hoax, "Tals
on Manures,' gives very interest,"
ing description of this particular
effect of lime on soils. He devotes e
number of pages to the various effects
lime has on soils and plant foods con
tanned therein. The book is wei
worth while for any farmer to gead.
: 1t may be found in some of our public
. libaries. But someone says eff i
unlocks plant food and the plant take
/ it up, it would sap up my land. ,
| uou, co1ld apythinon san land If if in