TilK IjL'J.LKTIN. 71 



0. That we suggest to (lie Dcjiarliiioiit of Agriculture the aclvisal)ilily of 

 taking up, wheu it can. the (luestion of Iia lulling and marketing of farm crops, 

 dairy products, vegetables, fruits, etc., with a view of aiding our farmers to 

 put their products on the market in an attractive way and in accordance with 

 such methods as will enable them to obtain the largest prices for them. 



7. That the farmers of this State and the South in the death of Dr. Knapp 

 have sustained a severe loss. His services have been appreciated by our 

 people, and we extend to his family our sincere sorrow in their personal 

 bei'eavement. 



8. That this, the North Carolina State Farmers' Convention, now in session 

 assembled, indorse a full Parcels Post bill and request our Representatives 

 and Senators in Congress to give their intluence and votes for a parcel post 

 in a manner that will be as helpful to our i)cople as those enjoyed by any 

 other country. 



USE OF LIME AGRICULTURALLY. 



By C. B. Williams. 



There is much misuse of lime by a goodly number of farmers because 

 of a misconception as to the action of lime. In many cases where marked 

 results have followed the use of this material the conclusion has been drawn 

 that it is the only one that needs be added to the soil in order to secure 

 large yields annually thereafter. Such a conclusion is not justified by the 

 facts in the case, and if this material is used and depended upon entirely 

 it will be found in time that the beneficial results will gradually grow less. 

 There is no truer saying than that the indiscriminate use of lime enriches 

 the father, but beggars the son if it is depended upon solely for average 

 soils. It should be remembered that, although lime is as essential for plant 

 growth as phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and potash, it is not able to replace 

 any one of these nutrients in the promotion of plant development. 



UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS USE. 



As a direct plant food for such crops as corn, cotton, and the small 

 grains planted on most of our soils, it is seldom needed; but for leguminous 

 crops, such as the clover, vetch, peas, and alfalfa, its use is usually imperative 

 for the best returns with those soils not well supplied with lime. It might 

 be stated in this connection that as a general rule with most of the upland 

 and coastal soils of the State it is generally necessary to use an application 

 of lime to secure the best results with the growth of leguminous crops. 

 Usually the most marked results with general farm crops have followed the 

 use of lime on soils which have been allowed to get into a bad physical con- 

 dition or to become sour or acid, either through a large accumulation of 

 organic matter, poor drainage, or insuflicient aeration brought on by poor 

 preparation and cultivation, or all combined. The writer has seen appli- 

 cations of lime to soils which have been allowed to get into a sour condition 

 change the yields of corn in one year from a complete failure the previous 

 year to splendid yields the year following the application of lime. In cases 

 like this— and there are many such soils in the State — -the chemical and 

 physical conditions of the soil were such that, although the soil had abundant 

 plant food for large yields for many years, yet ordinary crops like corn would 

 not grow to any extent until these conditions were made suitable for their 

 growth. When lime was added it neutralized or destroyed the acidity of the 

 soil, and at the same time improved its physical and chemical condition and 

 biological character to such an extent that afterwards for years the yields 

 were good. Here the beneficial results are largely due to the favorable 



