The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-01
.USEOF LIMESTONE
As A FERTILIZER
An Eminent Authority on the
Subject Discusses a Very
Live Subject.
NOT NEW, BUT TO THE POINT
A Few Hints as to How to Help
Nature on the
. Farm.
V0T NEW, BUT TO THE POINT

In view of the fact that Virginia
has recently launched b-oad-scopeo
plan Tor employing limestone as Ter
tilizer. an article in the Chattanooga
Tradesman by Or J. S. Grasty, Of the
University of Virginia is particularly
interesting and timely. II deals with
the use OF limestone TO. fertii!ztns
purposes pr. Grasty' says:
The chemicaily basic ingredients
contained in the soil. II the ground
he regularly cultivated, diminish to
a certain extent each year. so that
their neutraliziug effect on the acicic
portion gradually becomes less and
less. with the result that eventually
the soil becomes dominantly acidic, or
sour Man then must supply what
nature has removed both by extraction
in assimilation of plants for their
food as we'll ar basic materials tina.
have been removed BY the teaching ac-
tfon of acidulatcd waters: for II must
be remembered that every t!:flc 1t rains
the failing water absorbs. or rather
takes into combination, enough carbon
dioxide to make this 4ain alter very
dilute. but nevertheless. in the connec-
rinr referred to here. a most efficient
solvent
in this way the basic materials
are as indicated. ia time largely
ieaC.lcd out. anu TIE Only way u rem
.dy the situaticn is by as-;iinS the Sd ne
OF suitable basic material to take the
place OF that carried away 1t has
been found. in tact, il has been known
for ages, that lime serves this pur-
pose. and. b. neut, alizins; the acids
restores the original sweetness of the
sol. Scsides having Very desirable
further chemical cncct "a combining
with othe- soil substances. furnish
ing new compounds avaiia BILE and nee
essary for plant food.
As to the Deposits.
However in recent Gears the us.
of lime Is being supplemented D.
ground limestone. At the last meeting
of the legislature " the state OF "st
ginia a bib was passed providing for
the erection CT a couple ot plants
which shoull produce ground time
stone aac be run h. convict sAooT-
The bill. WIS fought II .s~-y sage OF
ITS passage by tic ". stnia Ill op-
orators AM Tough Kay lost sis- are
now TESTING the Csu-ti;Sti 1rsilty OF
the bill N the courts. st.lI tho o.5esa-
tors take good deal ~ comfort "a
the fat that. even 1t tHcy lose. ne
STATE Is COINS to have cousiG, rrb!e
IA. s.ij ~ finding two nigE ssads
lar stcur deposits 10 work Oh
-.viGcnii. tn. legislators a. we'll
as re ,ssv&raor tkcUsht limestone ~ss
limestone. me al. was sns-. or ass
alike. ags. - x crtcrops 1Il ovor ,!is
acue % Joan valley. which - almost
nisss.y uadcrlain hy II. that II Wa
-
short there would be no di.ncuIty
whatever in s,ttias deposits talt
'. 1uid vic!J a product meeting Tho
iisr.st s;.e7r-cai spce.s.cS;.oas
% - al s.ooL
in ,ou.u1snica;lcn 20 the vfitcr.
i'rof,ssor y. - Tea Eye =. ss Kansas.
an authority 81 .gsicg!tu-si subjects.
gives a. his opinion that d Sec lime
stone for as-icditgtaI purTcscs nay
contain as much - = r-r cent % i'm
.s.it..s mi o.: coarse. the less. tnc
raese valuable. The impurities 81 tie
asf majority os TIA. slows srcat,r
cxcess tar f.nst placed b. Professor
Tca Eyck. and thu inpu itics IN many
linestoac- amcuui 70 IS 20 20 per
cent. but ordinarily SO much impurity
- ;his would Eliminate the stosc fo-
commercial rs. ci.a,r or puiscsiS.ng
o.. Tor ruar..acturc into line SLAPPED
Tor agricultural purpose. in tn!s
connection 4 shoaic - ac.. "a how
ever. TIA: even the zrorra lirfs stone.
or line made from an impure lime
stone. where nothing bette ran BE-
had. D. better 90 Use than g. ict tne
soI 20 altogether Without o. appu-
cation q either the o.. ~ tn other.
Ordinary I--cstone IL sna-r up. -