Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-02-11
Lime USE
IN AGRICULTURE
Nashville, Chattanooga & st.
Louis Railway Issues Val
liable Publication On
the Subject

That the Nashville, Chattanooga and
st, Louis Railway is deeply concerned
for the full development of tue agri-
cultural lands in its territory, and
that it is giving the farmers along its
lines much wholesome and valuable
assistance, is evidenced by its efforts
to promote intelligent methods of agri-
culture in toe communities served by
it.
It is known that the soils of no
country res,ond mora quickly to fer
tillzers, vieId more profitable returns
from the intelligent application of Ia
Dor, than 10 those of Tennessee and
other sections of the Middle South.
/ The possibilities of the farming lands
of this state approach the marvellous.
Yet, no soil is so fertile. none so cap
able Of producing the most bountiful
crops, that tue continual removal of
those crops from it without returning
the equivalent of the plant food ele-
ments removed with them, will not
eventually deplete that soil of its fer
tility This seems to be what has oc-
Cured in most sections of the South
ern States. The annual production,
upon the same fields, of cotton in some
communities, of corn in others and of
wheat in others, for an entire half cen-
tury or more, has undoubtedly robbed
the soils of these communities heavii y
of their native fertility
The two plant food elements lacking
in most Southern soils in sufficient
quantities to iroduce pay crops are
nitrogen and lime, These both may
be economically restored by the farm
er himself, the former by growing tue
legumes clover, COW peas, soy BEANS
alfalfa, etc which are nitrogen gath
ering plants; the latter by an applica-
tion of limestone rock reduced by
grinding or crushing to about the fine
ness of o, mary corn meal. But as
tue nitrogen gathering plants will
thrive best on mona but we'll lined
applied to the sol of the South be.
fore the fertility of such soils can be
re,tored by means of the leguminous
croUs.
The Industrial, Agricultural and
immigration Division of the Nash
Vile Chattanooga & st Louis Rail,
ways Traffic Department has compiled
and published for free, distribution a
comprehensive puDilcatlon. upon tne
use of lime in agriculture l., P
Bellah, General Agent of the Divis-
ion, stlted in IA recent interview that
the booklet will be mailed to twenty
five thousand farmers along toe Com
pany's lines. 1t is said to b. the de-
sire Of the management of the Nash
vile. Chattanooga & st Louis Rail
way to encourage in every practical
way possible the use of lime upon the
soils of it. territory and the growing
of leguminous plants as winter cover
crops aud green mauuring. 1t is also
advocating the production of less cot,
ton and a greater diversification OF
crops, not only in what is known af
the cotton belt, but throughout its en-
tire territory. That Comparv's eff &C.
tive and valuable work in di t:ibutire
blooded amin Is aud in promoting i'm
proved livestock pro 'uction along it,
lines in recognized and we'll known.
The suggestions and directions as tc
the use of imf'in the booklet shortly
to be distributed by the Nashville,
Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway are
given aided value by the support oi
the Agricultural School of the Univer
sity of Tennessee.