The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-05-27
GROUND LIMESTONE.

Organization, bearing the title
Ground Limestone for Southern
Soils" by DR.. Cyril G. Hopkins, Direc-
tor Of Agriculture Of the Organization
is, being distributed throughout the
Southern States. 1t is going to farm
ers, live stock raisers, newspapers,
farm journals, agricultural colleges,
boards of trade and kindred organ
lzations and individuals who are in
terested in quickening the develop
ment of the South. 1t Is a. pamphlet
OF 3S pages, written in simple Ian
guage and goes into the details of the
methods Of using limestone to cor
rect soil acidity, giving the reasons
for it's use. The author, until recent
ly, was head agronomist and chemist
of the College Of Agriculture of the
University Of Illinois, and is the orig
inator Of the Illinoi ssystem Of ag-
stone.
The opening paragraph sets forth
the situation in the Southern States.
as the author sees it, as follows:
20 limestone country is rich coun-
try This is a proverb and truism
much older than American agricul-
ture. But every soil can be made
limestone soil, simply by liberal ap-
pications Of pulverized limestone
The initial application Of four tons
per acre of ground limestone, with
subsequent applications of two tons
per acre every four years, will make
and maintain limestone soil on
every Southern farm; and this Is the
first great economic STEP to be taken
in that positive soil enrichment which
Is needed to treble the average acre
yield Of the land now under cultiva-
ton and to restore to profitable ag-
ricultural use the vast areas of tilla-
BILE land now lying neglected or agri-
culturally abandoned in most South
ern States"
Taking up the question of the init
mate relationship between limestone
and legumes DR.. Hopkins writes:
with liberal application OF lime
stone (and phosphorus or potassium
added, if needed) most Southern soils
can be made to prdouce abundant
crops Of such valuable biennial or
perennial legumes as red clover, al
sike clover, sweet clover (mellilotus)
and alfalfa; and these when infected
with the proper bacteria have direct
access, almost twelve months in the
year, to the ineXbaustiblc supply Of
nitrogen In the air. The biennial and
perennial legumes store up very
much more nitrogen and organic mat
ter III their roots than do the annual
plants, such as cowpeas, and one seed
ing sometimes with a nurse crop and
with no extra preparation Of the seed
bcdD may provide legume crop to
occupy the land for from two years to
five years or more.
These deep-rooting legumes are
the best subsoilers,' and in nmany
ways they are the best soil-improv-
splendid pasture crops. and If not
cropped too closely Ca bad practice
for any pasture) they will furnish
grazing from early spring till early
winter. These are among the most
valuable crops in profitable livestock
farming; and nothing is needed more
for the development of live stock In
the South. Moreover, clover and al
falfa are the best crops to precede
corn, as is we'll known by every corn
belt farmer.
Limestone and legumes must con-
stitute the foundation for corn and
cattle in the South"
The pamphlet quotes many we'll
known agricultural authorities In sup
port Of the limestone doctrine and
gives a list of sources and the cost
of ground limestone. in the several
Southern States. There Is q foreword
by Vice President w. H. Manss of the
Organization, in which he says:
1T Is we'll known that the South
possesses the only extensive areas OF
unused tillable lands in the humid
parts Of the United States and affords
the finest agricultural climate with
abundant rainfall, which Is normally
well distributed.
"The result of every nationwide
contest in the growing Of our mos
important cereal crop-corn-estab-