Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-07

This Is one of the IiveIiest issues ef-
1ecting the welfare OF southern farmers
at the present time. The following val
liable paper on this subject has been pre-
pared by Prof. l.. {. Carter. of the state
College OF Agriculture. Every sub
scrfber should read this article carefully
and cut Il out and lay il aside for future
reference. II gives the latest and best
summarized information on this subject
CbtainabIe:
1T should be borne IN mind that the
primary use Of lime is for the purpose
VI correcting acidity, and maintaining a
neutral condition in the soil favoravIe
10 the development of beneficial soil bac-
terra Lime Is essential. Tor instance,
for the best results from legumes. Leg
luminous bacteria. in the process OF lax
ing atmospheric nitrogen, form nitric
acid about themselves. This acid Will
arrest their activity unless ii is neutral
lied BY some basic substance IN the soil.
Lime Is the cheapest substance that can
lie mad FOR this purpose.
The effect OF lime on the insoluble pot
ash in the soil has never been definitely
determined. While most authorities mold
that it does set free some of the insOl-
uhle potash. there Is a lack of expert
mental data from which me might draw
any conclusions as to the amount liber-
ated BY the application of lime to the
land. Ii is generally agreed, however,
BY the leading agricultural chemists that
the amount is relatively small Lime
certainly viii not pay solely for its Ell
feet on the unavailable potash OF the
soil. 1t Is not substitute for potash,
and can not take its place in the fertil-
izer any more than common salt could
Of potash are advanced for the purpose of
selling limestone rather than helpins the
farmer solve his fertilizer problem.
The Liberation OF potash in the soil by
lime is due TO what chemists call a
mass reaction" that is. a chemical
change brought about by large excess
OF a reageut Gin this case limestone)
over the substance To be acted upon tln
this case. the potash bearing minerals OF
the soiu- some writer's have gone so far
as 10 give the chemical squatiOn. show
ing how 100 pounds OF limestone will set
nee ninety-fOur pounds Of potash. such
figures are misleading. because no such
thing takes place between the limestone
and the soil material except in a very
limited way. When the chemist wishes
10 bring about this reaction in the lab
oratory. he mixes the soil with several
times its weight of pure limestone plus
its own weight Of another strong chem
fcal reacent. and heats the mixture for
about an hour AT bright red heat II
j. easy TO see. then. that the reaction in
the soil must be exceedingly slow, and
very slight indeed. FOR even a heavy APP
plication or lime is equivalent TO only
n very small fraction Of the weight Of
TN soil. and whatever chemical action
takes place must Ue at the temperature
Of the soil
This fs not meant 10 discourage the
proper use OF lime. but to warn the
farmer not 10 expect too much from its
use. BY enabling legumes 10 gather
more OF the atmospheric nitrogen. lime
increases the total amount of nitrogen
in the soil. and thus benefits other
crops to follow. Used literally. lime
will undoubtedly enable the soil TO give
up more Of its plant food. but this is
undoubtedly due more TO the improved
physical condition of the soil than to
any direct reaction with its mineral
constituents. Anything that improves
the physical condition of the soil will
have much the same effect. whether il
be lining. manuring. drainage or deep
plcwing II all these agencies are en-
plOyed, they Will bring about cOndi-
tons favorable 10 the gradual Teleas-