Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-21

Though only a comparatively Few sam
Hes of Georgia soils have been analysed
tp TO the present time. many Of them
how a marked deficiency In lime A so
Y high fertility should contain at east
1000 % I20oo pounds OF this material per
ere foot As soils depart from this
standard they are likely to be rendered
sss efficient In crop production for a
liant Is peculiar in that IL requires some
to Is elements in order TO develop
properly. An examination Of the soils
a question shows that many OF them
% not contain over 1000 TO LOO pounds
n lime per acre foot They are in this
aspect therefore, markedly deficient. and
Z seems well worth while TO investigate
sarefuIfy what the effect OF liberal ap-
aications OF lime will be on the product
veness OF these soils To this end. ex-
Ieriments have been commenced by the
Georgia State College OF Agriculture not
lnly In its demonstration field. but IN
nher parts Of the state as well OF
pourse, only a bare beginning has been
made for funds have not been available
or this work until very recently, and 1t
yin not be possible 20 get data which
nay be regarded as reliable for some
anne yet
The results OF an experiment with lime
N the red clay soils Of the Piedmont re-
zion during the season Of 1911 can not
All 10 be Of interest at this time when
o much inquiry is being made about the
Ese and application Of lime The land
IN which the tests were made is char
tcteristic red clay. and would not be
egarded as q rich soil OF one in good
lhyslcaI condition. II had the benefit
Il deep blowing and good general cult
ration before the lime was applied. but
vas not enriched in any other respect
This area OF land was laid off INTO six
Hats and the work carried on in dupli-
ate. so that the results in each In
nanca represent the average yield OBJ
aimed from two plats. and are therefore
more reliable than deductions from a
Jingle test
To one-half of each set OF plats was
applied caustic lime at the rate OF 200
n q finely puIverized condition generally
n afinely pulveriEed condition generally
Enown as slaked lined. IL was applied 20
ne surface Of the ground IN the autumn
md was left exposed throughout the win
Hr season In the spring this ground
Fas carefully prepared by good cultiva-
son and planted TO a standard variety
II corn The results obtained are very
Rriking and show marKed benefits from
he application OF lime On the no-fer-
alizsr plat the yield was Is bushes OF
Iorn ser acre Where lime was applied
e Indicated above. the yield was a
bushels. On the plat to which 100 pounds
II floats. OF finely ground phosphate
fearing rock. was applied the yield was
SIS bushels. On the plat 20 which the
Eoats and lime were applied the yield
lecame SIS bushes. On the plat 70 which
% pounds of high grade acid phosphate
Eas applied the yield was IS bushels.
When 90 pounds OF 1s per cent acid and
ime we're applied the yield became SIS
bushels.
From this data IL appears that lime
vas very beneficial 10 this land; also
hat floats and acid phosphate produced
relatively the same effect in increased
srop yields. IL would not be safe, how
sver, TO draw he conclusion that these
materials are OF equal value as carriers
II phosphorus, for just what the effect
u lime may have been Is hard TO de-
sermine- II this series OF tests can Dc
sontinued for several years and the same
relative increased yield is shown oy
loats and cid phosphate then it would
,e proper TO conclude that one Is rela-
lively as valuable as the other as car
Ter OF phosphorus when used in asso-
,iation with lime, which probably chang
s the physical condition of the soil To
An extent which enables floats, for ex-
ample, TO become more effective as car
der Of phosphorus than when applied d.
,ectIy TO the soil by itself
These results show such large in
.rease from the use of lime that they
dispose US to say that il may be ap'
,lied with advantage on much OF ouT
and which has been under cultivation
or 4 long time. The tendency of ali
cultivated lands is to become acid; un
ioubtedIy much OF our soil is in this con-
Htion In other words. it is suffering
rom naInutrition- due 10 the formation
within IL probably OF some toxic mate
dals which have accumulated until they
,etard the perfect growth and develop
nent OF the plants grown thereon II l.
also likely true that most crops which
hrive well in limestone regions surfer
rom an insufficient supply of this ma
,eriaI on the type of land found in many
,ections OF the state OF Georgia II
lhould not be forgotten in this connec-
ion. however, that lime is not direcl
liant food. but II is carrier OF an ele-
nent called calcium which may be -oi
he greatest Importance in plant econ
INV. There is no material which may DC
.npIsed TO the soil calculated TO improve
Is mechanical condition more rapidly OF
completely than lime. and of all tne
,orms available for application the caus-
SC Is the most effective IN correcuns
he bad physical condition OF much Of
ne land we are attemting TO cultivate
Il the present time However. caustit
fme should not always be used Or
oils which contain considerable quaint;
les OF organic matter or where cowpeas
r yard manure have been used frequent
and extensively. as soil amendments
ne. finely ground raw rock viii answer
ven. The raw rock because of its rela-
lively slower availability should be ap-
{ lied in larger quantities than the caus,
10 lime. At least two tons should be used
.er acre, and from three to five viii Of