The Jones County news., 1920-10-14

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 a 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 It cheaply, 1t is
doubtful whether the farmer in lime
stone region would do well 10 make
lis own lime In other cases, how
ever, the existence of local material
and the. advisability of using power
or labor which would otherwise go 10
waste make IL 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 II 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 be
used 20 produce lime for the instltu-
tion farm or even for sale TO neigh
boring farmers.
Burning or Grinding.
Given source of limestone OF
/ shell. the farmer has choice of eithe
| grinding the material finely and usinl
| II IN the form OF carbonate or burning
II and using ii In the form of oxide o.
ouichline In the early days OF fhil
country the burning process was the
only one employed, but at present
ground limestone is popular in many
sections where long freight hauls are
not involved. Good results agricultur-
ally are obtained from lime Ia either
OF these forms.
Burning has certain advantages for
small operations, chiefly because II
takes no expensive equipment or pow
er plant Where only small amount
is needed all that Is necessary Is to
use the so-calIed heap method. In
this system a layer of two rows of
dry cordwood mixed with a lighter
klndiing is first laid down, next lay
er 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 Ia
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 Q 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 10 escape.
This method produces lime which Is
mixed with ashes but as the coal
ashes are harmless and the wood
ashes beneficial TO the soil no III eff
fects result from this mixture. Oyster
or clam shells may be burned In q sim
Elar manner or in speeIal rack made
Of cordwood In all cases the heal
mnst be controlled and spaces mus
be left between the stone or shells foi
the flames 20 penetrate.
Where larger quantities OF lime ars
to be made II may be advisable IL
ssme cases TO construct small cyIin
drieal kiln. which may be lined with
fire brick or sandstone. This is rare
~ advisable for the farmer 1T pres
ent. however, as under these condi
tionr II would probably pap him bet
ter to purchase a grinding outfit.
Community Production.
The use Of small erushers and pnl
verizers to prsauce ground lInesisa'
han prsves satisfactory IN msny 10
enilties. They are mafaraiiy mst al
seeHsmlcaI as g iarEs elanf buf aa,
save high freight fstss to iaseosssisi'
localities. They are sftsm em~s@yea
ssss al OF seasoms Of the gear wker'
iahsr weuis sfhsrwise ret an Bses 4
The sssf asxantxge. Yhe sssst cen
vsBiesf aufft is esmhIRnffsx erash
er ana pafveyixsr, bnt gsss remnss
are secured frsm mswan puiverfzsrs
although In fkfs ease geea ssa
more hand siedging has 10 be done
Portable outfits nsay be moved ares
place TO nIace and tsus utilize oui
crops and save hFuiing.
Where assoeiansens Of farmers ar
buying machinery "a stationary plan
may be Installed whls IA should prcdue
limestone II low sest per ron. a
each case is busl sss propositic
which WILL hare TO bsa considered !