The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-30

I "a
2A&sa5kD generally In phos-
w. r. MnkHey. phorus, and we get
this in the natural combination with
lime az in tho 2ulvtrized phosphate rock
or in the same rock dissolved In sui
phuric acid. making Il superphosphate.
commonly called acid phosphate. In
the making of this acid phosphate
there is of necessity produced con-
siderable amount OF sulphate of lime
or plaster, and in most samples OF acid
phosphate this will amount to about
80 per cent of the whole.
long continued use or acid phos-
pbste liz apt &c result In ncid condi-
tons in tho soil. not because OF free
acid in tho phosphate. for manufac-
turers try TO avoid this. ns 1t makes
the article hard TO drill. But when II
is applied to the soil the phogphorlc
acid. rendered available. Is used up
by the plant roots, and the combina-
tion broken UP and the sulphuric acid
set free. This at once combines with
the limo IN the soil, forming sulphnte
or lime or plaster. This sulphatc OF
limo does not sweeten the soil as the
lime carbonate does, and the result
is that the soil Is robbed OF lime ana
becomes acid. and that is the condi-
ton to-day OF nine tenths OF our old
cultivated lands, where acid phosphate
has been applied annually for years
Tho remedy Is lining. All over the
country where red clover formerly
throve there nave heen complaints OF
failure. and this failure is In almost
every care duo to the acid condition
OF the soil Sweeten 1t with lime and
clover thrives again.
How often to Lime Land.
ha fa,r is
systematic rotation and clover and
other leSumes grown. / would lime
every time the land comes in corn at
ter sod. If one Is running a short
three-year roto ton, % lighter appl.ca-
tion OF abou: 500 pounds an acre VIII
answer But IN a longer rotation OF
i've or six years, / would use l,n0U
pounds an acre. A moderate applica-
tion at frequent intervals is better
than heavy one at longer intervals.
But lime VIII never make poos land
rich and II one does not Keep up the
humus or organic decay In the soil. he
may inpoverish II with lining There
is an old saying. that lime enriches
the father AMI i'npoverishcs the son,
and In many sections where the farm
ers formerly thought that al ;hey had
TO do was 10 lime heavily. they have
learned their error. | know OF one
county in Pennsylvania where when
I was there as college student the
farmers applied $50 10 200 bushels OF
lime an acre In that same county
to-day the fran .yho would apply more
than Twenty-Five bushels is considered
rash
Cowpens for Hogs.
How mnny hogs can pasture on
an acre OF cowpeas, and for how long,
This is rather indefinite for an acre
of peas on one acre mag be far heavier
than on another. and one variety OF
peas, making more seed than another
will have higher feeding value.
Hence IL Is hard 10 give n precise reply.
] have. however, happened on a report
from the Missouri Experiment Station.
which says that after Ave years use
OF cowpeas for hogs they showed an
average pasturage OF 32S days n year.
and during that time pastured an av-
cragc OF l2.7 hogs an acre, and during
the pasturing Of the 32S days made
1919 pounds of pork. while SOY beans
gave but thirty-one days pasture. The
Missouri station also says that there
is no forage crop that will make
much pork acre as alfalfa. They
say that il can be moderately pastured
and still make two crops OF hay. My
own opinion has been that pastur!ng
alfalfa, especially with hogs, is about
the best way to exterminate IT. They
claim that the alfalfa can be pastured
by 1913 hogs an acre for lG3 days in
the year and will make 1870 pounds
OF pork an acre. But II is puzzle to
me If the hogs can pasture on IL for
163 days where the two crops OF hay
come in Doubtless alfalfa is good for
hogs. but If had q good lot in alfalfa
j would not use il for hogs unless /
determined to give it entirely to the
hogs and make no hay
Alfalfa for Chickens.
A neighbor OF mine amuses him
self in his mature years by Keeping
hens what in other peoples lots