The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-05-03
TENNESSEE SOIL
AND APPLICATION OF
LIME AND RESULTS
FARMERS MUST TAKE ADvANT-
AGE OF THE BEST METHODS
TO SUCCEED.
TENNESSEE FORTUNATE In SUPPLY
Difference of Opinion as to Proper
Use, But None as to Results
Chemical Action Most Important
And Many Crops Affected.
BY Capt T. F. Peck, Commissioner
of Agriculture.

BY Capt T. F. Peck, Commissioner
of Agriculture.
| Many farmers are seeking informa-
ticn concerning the use of lime on
tnell soils. To supply this informa-
ton we have compiled the following
from the best authorities in the
country, Oh the subject:
Lime for Tennessee Soils.
! The question of profit is the prin-
clple thing the farmer has to solve.
Farming is profitable business
when carried on as it should be.
There is nc better place for farm ng
than in Tennessee Tennessee has
the greatest variey of soils, and the
farms run all the way from those
which have been robbed of their fer
tility by bad cultivation of crops and
the criminal negligence of the soils,
to those which have the richest allu-
vial lands, there are few which
should not be the most profitable. 1t
depends very largely on the man
who owns and operates the farm
whether it gives good profits or not.
To succeed today the farmer must
take advantage of the best methods.
He must pay special attention to the
preservation of his soils fertility.
| If it is run down he must bring it
back. He can do this. He cannot
only maintain the present richness
Of the soil, but he can steadily in
crease it's fertility by the use of Pro-
per methods. Increasing the ferti-
lily means the growing of larger
yields at relatively smaller cost
Two tons of hay to the acre will
cost slightly more than one ton, a
bail of cotton but little more than
quarter of bale, $50 bushels of po-
tatoes not much more than 100 BUSH
els; and so it is through all the crops
the farmer produces. The man
whose soil has run down or whose
soil is naturally defective in some
way, through the lack of humus or
nitrogen or some other necessary
constituent, is the man who most
needs to adopt measures to build up
his land, to call to his. aid the leg
umes the fertilizers, the proper div
justification of crops, to introduce |
humus thru the application Of man
ute and the growing of legumes and |
to correct any sourness or bad phys
lcal conditions by the use of lime. 1t
cannot be impressed too strongly
upon the farmers of Tennessee that
they may add very greatly to their
profits, may frequently turn little or
no profit into splendid returns which
will make them the most prosperous
farmers in the eworld, if they will
take proper measures to put their
soil sin the best possible shape.
The subject of the lining of soils
is pregnant one. 1t has had the
close study of all the best farm ex-
perts and teachers; it is one that
should have the attention of every {
farmer in the State. Unfortunately {
there are large areas of our farm :
lands which are urgently in need of
more lime, because they lack nitro
sen and Eumus. The only way in s
which to permanently get these {
lands into proper condition is by
the use of lime in some of it's forms.
Such use is not new.
Today, however, experiments and ;
study have put it's use upon scientI- {
fic basis. The farmer may learn .
Just what is to be done, just what ,
the application of lime tc his parti-
cular soil and for his special crop
will do
Tennessee is fortunate in the sup
ply of lime that is available for the
farmers use. 1t may be obtained !
easily and at such cost as to make
its use most profitable. The forms
in which it may be obtained include
ground limestone, burnt or s.aked
limestone, ground oyster SMELLS,
ground phosphate rock and marls.
While there is some difference of
opinion among experts and farmers
as to the best form in which to use
lime there is no difference in opin-
ion as to the great value of its use
on tre land for soils deficient in lime 4,
and for most crops. The selection
of tho special form to be used must
be determined by the farmer himself.
1t will naturally depend to a consid-
cradle degree on his location with
reference to the supply, the cost of
the different kinds and on tn spec
ial needs of his soils. The aid of