Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-11
Weekly Bureau of In
formation for All Who
Till the Soil or Are In
tcrested in Making Homes
EVERY FARMER SHOULD
KNOW ALL THESE THINGS
Whit Arc the Elements In Your Sol
and Whit Arc Lack
fprf

Neither plant or animal life can ma
ture 10 any degree OF perfection on
part rations. but must have tho pri-
mary elements of plant foods present,
from which IL can select n balanced
ration. Upwards of so per cent of the
dry weight OF all animals, including
human beings. is calcium phosphate,
the bones. tissues and teeth being up
wards of 40 per cent calcium phos-
phate. OF which 81 per cent is calcium
carbonate. The calcium carbonate and
phoSphorous in tho crops or foods that
arc eaten by man or beast unite to
form this calcium phosphate.
Scientists claim that many imperfec-
lions, diseases and Weaknesses OF hu
man life animal life and plant life are
attributable to the ahscucc of Il bal
Gnced ration. which also lessons the
power OF resistance TO the attacks OF
many more minor enemies TO health.
From tho following IL will he noted
that the lime Calcium carbonate) con-
tent of the various crops grown is al
most equal ~ the total of all other elc-
mentg OF plant food combined: there
fore, II is not only one Of the four pri-
mary clements OF plant food but il is
the paramount element. and also plays
an important part AS an indirect fer
tilzer and soil sweetener. Calcium
carbonate transforms insoluble potash
j, soluble ana available as plant food.
There are two classes OF lime and
each of these classes Is suhdividcd into
several fo-ms:
First. Is the carbonate class. under
which heading belong the following
forms OF unhurncd limo In general use:
Limestone, precipitate lime dissolved
limestone reprecipitated sometimes
called ii.ne-marls), oyster shells and
coastal plain muck mari deposits.
These vary IN value or availability, &C
cord!nS to the geological strata, tho
age and the location, from sac per cent
up TO 100 per cent available, the pre-
cipitate lines being the only form TO
run higher than SSH per cent avail
able 1t is in these carbonate forms
that lime sweetens the soil. iiberatcs
potash and phosphorous. and is taken
up AS plant food, and all OF these
forms are quicker TO act Of finely pull
verized) than tile Same aftcr being
burned Carbonate OF lime is neither
acid or caustic, but has the property OF
neutralizing any acids that may hc
present in the soil without cxerting
any harmful cffec, on plants. plant
foods or soils.
Second. Is the oxide or caustic class,
under which heading belong the follow
Ing forms OF burned lime in general
use. Burned limestone rock and burned
cyste- SHELLS, either hydrated, air
siaEe4 or water slaked. These vary in
aya.ia t!lt;y o. soiGStltty Gin rain wa
t.-g rract.c2.!y % the same extern; that
Ihey varied Sefo-e being burned. These
forms, Z com ..-z:.vs,y zee .-c1l mag
-ss5. d. pa CO: o. ,essl. eventually
: te-==cszl e&eC- . soils and
ceogs -; 80 .-s; actions a.: Effects
e s-y !o~- - ---+z lin. = 50 cetr.-
-u.1-E. g .E-- z-5 cops, - wel. IS 20
-.:-ort- -.s and. = % almost =
-; .-.-4 cTe-tz-a-Cs 80 BENEFIT
<-E-.y - "a -.-s5-=S
- a9;s7a e: s---e+ LINE Calcium
i-l=+ = -: - lss.:oT 80 nitrogen
e-s sEz-so-t--- r-P-z;e). .c- when cal
,t go ~ z-s:- lime comes in
.--E-: WI ms nitrogen ire latter
!--- s53..-,y assumes = volatile torn
a-[ -zssss - = vzPo: Into the air.
leaving ire c-oi's with AT unbalanced
-st--- -E= r=It sep = the path OF
tc-:st line < % destroy humus in our
soil . absorb rainfall. ana this action
sEc-- .v=r : al Il The necessary plant
:og5s w=r- j.. evidence, would prevent
o. .o-esta.l taa efficient and synchron-
Gus action o.: these several elements
II the -ar.y days our farmers used
snd par;ly because ihey had no way 20
;ulver.ze i loven II they had known
let,er) without first burning i.
In these days some farmers use
burned lime because their crand.athers
used IT, and others are using Il because
the burned Inns producers recon
mend IT,
The only agricultural chemists and
soil specialists who now recommend
burned llmt'. ARE .shose who have not
done re.eS'rcs' @ork OF the!r own ac
cord. bu; who are content 10 accept
the writings OF some ancient author
who died before the invention OF ma
chine pulVcrizers. If the chemist or soil
specialists above referred To VIII go TO
the trouble 10 conduct some research
work along the lines mentioned they
viii see the absolute truth OF the au
thor's statement
GImc1
Calcium