THE 



Devoted to Agricui^ire, Horticulture , and the Household Arts. 



Agriculture is the nursing pother of the Arts. 



9 • [Xknophon. 



jllage and Pasturage are the two breasts of 

 flfe State. — Sully. 



J. E. WILLIAMS, Editor. 



AUGUST & WILLIAMS, Prop'rs. 



Vol. XX. RICHMOND, VA., 



Fertilizers. 



BY HON. THOMAS G. CLEMSON, LL. D. 



[Abridged from Patent Office Report of 

 1859, and divided into three parts — Ed. 

 So. Planter.] 



PART II — LIME. 

 [CONTINUED FROM AUGUST NO.] 



Next to manure, the most common fertili- 

 zer used throughout the United States, 

 wherever it can be procured, is lime, either 

 burnt from limestone or oyster shells, or in 

 the state of a sulphate commonly called 

 gypsum or plaster of Paris. It appears to 

 have been used from remote antiquity, and 

 there are few soils which are not benefited 

 by its application. It does not seem to be 

 of very great importance whether it be 

 added to the soil in the shape of lime direct 

 from the kiln, slaked, or in the form of 

 carbonate, as it occurs in chalk, marble, or 

 marl. The essential point is extreme fine- 

 ness. The finer it is, the more easily it en- 

 ters into combination and produces its effect. 

 This purpose is always better attained by 

 burnt lime, whatever it may be burnt from, 

 whether limestone, marble, or shells. Lime 

 has a great affinity for carbonic acid, which 

 is one of the ever-present constituents of 

 the atmosphere ; so that, upon the exposure 

 33 



SEPTEMBER, 1860. No. 9. 



of caustic* lime, it soon becomes carbonated. 

 Caustic, or fresh-burned lime, when put in 

 contact with organic matter, either animal 

 or vegetable, causes immediate action and 

 rapid decomposition. Corbonate of lime is 

 less active ; and although it has lost its caus- 

 tic power by the absorption of carbonic 

 acid, still it produces important changes in 

 soils. As we have seen, soils are mixtures 

 of salts and organic matter, containing air 

 and water, in their pores. Here lime acts, 

 decomposing the organic matter, and free- 

 ing carbonic acid. It again acts upon the 

 alkaline a:id earthy salts, decomposing, 

 them, and enabling them to form such com-' 

 binations as the plants require. 



Chemistry has rendered important servi- 

 ces to agriculture in many ways ; none 

 more than by analysis of soils ; not by 

 informing us of the difference between poor 

 and rich soils, nor by pointing out the spe- 

 cific wants of the farmer, or the particular 

 applications to each soil so hoped for by 

 him ; but by showing us that certain combi- 

 nations exist in the soil ; that a simple 

 silicate of alumina is barren, experience 

 proving that the mere application of ma- 

 nure to it will not give fertility; though, 

 lime being added on common clay, a double 

 silicate of alumina and lime will be found, 

 which in the course of time, with manure, 



