The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-10-16

With the building up of soil by
proper crop rotation becoming more
general the use of lime for improving
agricultural soils is increasing. Lime
stone soils are universally recognized
as rich soils and especially suitable
for stock farming, where proper
mixed hay and pasture are vital. BY
the use of ground limestone many
farmers, frequently at moderate ex-
pense. can make their soils better, say
specialists of the bureau of soils,
United States department of agricul-
ture.
Where lime can be bought from
large plants producing ii cheaply, 1t is
doubtful whether the farmer in a lime
stone region would do well to make
his own lime. In other cases, how
ever, the existence of local material
and the ACCESSIBILITY of using power
or labor which would otherwise go to
waste make 1t the best policy to pro-
duce lime on the farm. In some rural
communities are sources of power.
such as sawmills, which are only used
for part of the year. In cases OF
this kind 1t may be possible to utilize
this power for limestone grinding, and
thus lower the price of the product.
In other cases, as at prisons. reforma-
tories, institutions for the insane, etc,
there Is available a large amount of
unpaid or cheap labor which may he
used TO produce lime for the institu-
ton farm or even for sale to neigh
boring farmers.
Burning or Grinding.
Given source of limestone or
shell, the farmer has choice of either
grinding the material finely and using
II In the form of carbonate or burning
II and using it In the form of oxide or
quicklime. In the early days Of this
country the burning process was the
ground limestone is popular in many
sections where long freight hanls are
not involved. Good results agricultur-
ally are obtained from lime in either
of these forms.
Burning has certain advantages for
small operations, chiefly because 1t
takes no expensive equipment or pow
er plant. Where only small amount
is needed al that is necessary is to
use the so-called heap method. In
this system a layer of two rows of
dry cordwood mixed with a lighter
kindling is first laid down. next lay
err Of coal, next layer Of limestone,
and above this several layers of lime
stone and coal. One part of coal
should burn several parts of lime
stone. The outside of this heap is
covered with soil and the kindling
lighted The burning of the wood and
coal turns the whole amount of broken
limestone into burned lime, the car
bon dioxide escaping as gas through
an opening left in the top Of the heap
for this purpose. The process is not
completely satisfactory unless the gas
is allowed to escape.
This method produces lime which Is
mixed with ashes. but as the coal
ashes beneficial to the soil no i'll ef-
fects result from this mixture. Oyster
or clam shells may be burned In SIM
liar manner or In a special rack made
of cordwood In all cases the heat
must be controlled and spaces must
be left between the stone or shells for
the flames to penetrate.
! Where larger quantities Of lime are
to be made II may be advisable In
some cases to construct a small cylin-
drical kiln. which may be lined with
fire brick or sandstone. This is rare
~ advisable for the farmer at pres
ent. however, as under these cOndi-
tons II would probably pay him bet
ter to purchase grinding outfit.
Community Production.
The use Of small crushers and pull
verizers to produce ground limestone
has proved satisfactory In many To-
calities. They are naturally not as
economical as large plant but may
save high freight rates to inaccessible
localities. They are often employed
also at off seasons of the year where
labor would otherwise not be used to
the best advantage. The most con-
venient outfit is combination crush
err and pulverizer. but good results
are secured from small pulverizers
although In this case good deal
more hand sledging has to be done.
Portable outfits may be moved from
place TO ulace and thus utilize out
crops and save hauling.
Where associations Of farmers are
buying machinery a stationary plant
may be installed which should produce |
limestone at low cost per ton. AS |
each case is business proposition |
which will have to be considered by |
itself. ii is difficult to advise as to |
CforS All Marhinarv