1911. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
369 
THE STORY OF LIME. 
“Lime and lime and no manure makes 
both farm and farmer poor.” ‘‘Lime 
enriches the father, and impoverishes 
the son.” These old proverbs are es¬ 
pecially seasonable now, when so many 
farmers are beginning the use of lime. 
They have made the soil acid by the 
continued use of acid phosphate (the 
carrier of phosphoric acid in commer¬ 
cial fertilizers), and as clover refuses 
to grow in an acid soil, they must use 
lime to sweeten the soil so that clover 
will grow and nitrogen will be supplied 
from the air. But caustic lime is a 
stimulant and not a plant food, hence if 
used abundantly it is liable to stimulate 
the soil for a few years, so that ex¬ 
cellent crops are obtained for the father, 
but when the son takes the farm the 
plant food has been depleted; even if 
lime is then applied the crop finds no 
plant food in the soil, and the son is 
impoverished. This process of deple¬ 
tion of plant food by lime is but imper¬ 
fectly understood, because it is an in¬ 
visible, intangible work that is going on 
down in the ground: but we may illus¬ 
trate the process by known facts. We 
know that caustic lime applied to our 
hands will crack and burn them, and a 
few days of working with bare hands 
in lime will destroy the skin. Now, the 
lime eats up humus in the soil much in 
the same way that it eats the skin off 
the hands. It also dissolves phosphates 
and potassic materials in the soils, mak¬ 
ing the phosphorus and potash in the 
soils available. Thus it supplies for a 
few years the three plant foods that our 
crops demand, i. e., nitrogen, phosphor¬ 
us, and potash; then when the humus 
has been burnt ...up and the minerals 
have been dissolved, and nothing is left 
in the soil for the lime to operate upon, 
the mischief is done and the farm is 
ruined. 
It is the duty of the experiment sta¬ 
tions to tell the farmers fully and clearly 
the benefits and the dangers from the 
use of caustic lime, and it is much 
more of the duty of the soil owner to 
find the truth for himself by reasoning, 
reading and experiment. However, life 
is so short that I intend to take the ad¬ 
vice of the experiment stations rather 
than to experiment for myself. While 
their advice is in general cautious and 
tentative, yet it preponderates somewhat 
against caustic lime and in favor of 
non-caustic lime, for the reasons given 
above. Non-caustic lime has all the 
benefits of caustic lime, and yet none 
of the injurious effects of the caustic 
material. The non-caustic kind may be 
used in any amount, one ton or 10 tons 
per acre, without the slightest danger 
to the soil or to the crop. It corrects 
soil acidity as well as caustic lime, and 
it does not destroy humus, nor dissolve 
the mineral elements. This may be re¬ 
peated and emphasized without being 
too strongly stated. A 'on-caustic lime 
has all the benefits and none of the dan¬ 
gers of caustic lime. 
What is meant by caustic and by non¬ 
caustic lime? Caustic -lime is simply 
burnt lime, or slaked lime; non-caustic 
lime is raw limestone, crushed and 
ground to a fine powder. Caustic lime 
is burnt, non-caustic lime is not burnt. 
Again, what are we to pay for the non¬ 
caustic lime? The Southern Illinois 
Penitentiary at Maynard sells it at 60 
to 75 cents a ton, but we are too far 
from Maynard to take advantage of 
that cheap source of lime. Ohio, Penn¬ 
sylvania and New York all have several 
limestone mills which grind the stone to 
a powder and sell it in bulk or in bags 
at $1.25 to $2.75 a ton. In general it 
may be stated that non-caustic should be 
sold at half the price of caustic lime, 
since there is only half as much calcium 
(or soil sweetener) in it as there is in 
caustic lime. So, if we are paying $2.50, 
$3 or $4 per ton for burnt (or caustic) 
lime, we ought to buy unburnt (or non¬ 
caustic) lime flour for $1.25, $1.50 or 
$2 respectively. Finally, if we farmers 
will all buy our raw fertilizer materials 
unmixed, using floats instead of acid 
phosphate, then mix these materials at 
home on our own barn floor, we will 
save $10 a ton on their cost; we will 
make from $10 to $25 a day in wages 
while mixing the materials, and, best of 
all, we will not sour the soil with the 
sulphuric acid that is in acid phosphate, 
and so the use of any form of lime will 
not be so imperative, and the son as 
well as the father may be enriched. 
Pennsylvania. j. c. m. johxston. 
VITALITY OF SEED CORN. 
Your recent article regarding seed 
corn opens up a question that will stand 
a good deal of investigation. Not only 
on the question of “true to name,” but 
the percentage of such seed that will 
grow. Last Spring, early, I ordered my 
seed corn from one of our reliable seed 
growers, from whom I had had seed 
for some years, and had always con¬ 
sidered it fit to plant without testing. 
I did not look at this corn until it 
was brought from the attic in the house 
where all such seed is stored, until it 
was time to plant. After most of it 
had been treated with tar for the benefit 
of the crows a sample was shown me 
which was decidedly mouldy. Not hav¬ 
ing time to order new seed from the 
dealer, the field was planted with seed 
from our neighbor’s crib. It seems that 
every kernel grew, as we have a perfect 
stand. I wrote the seed grower arid 
inclose the answer received. Their ex- j 
perience is contrary to my own, and I 
believe to that of most farmers. You 
see they claim a germinating test of 
94 to 98%. This seed was tested and 
showed less than 60% under the most 
favorable circumstances. Planted in the 
field less than 50% would have grown. 
Have the readers of The R. N.-Y. ever 
had seed' corn lose in vitality, as this 
grower indicates? If so, is there any 
way to prevent it? c. i. hunt. 
Livingston Co., N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—The man who sold the seed 
promptly agreed to refund the money I 
paid for it on shipment to him. His 
note, to which Mr. Hunt refers, is as 
follows: 
We have made a number of tests of corn 
and nothing has been sent out that showed 
90 per cent and most of it tested from 94 
to 98 per cent. It is a well-known fact 
among all seedsmen that corn testing well 
during the Winter and early Spring will 
upon the approach of extremely hot 
weather lose vitality and we have 'mown 
seed corn to test 95 per cent April firsT 
to test as low as 50 per cent .Tune first, 
even though it has been stored under favor¬ 
able conditions. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“sejuare deal. See guarantee editorial page. 
get power 
The Supply Comes From Food. 
If we get power from food why not 
strive to get all the power we can. That 
is only possible by use of skilfully se¬ 
lected" food that exactly fits the require¬ 
ments of the body. 
Poor fuel makes a poor lire and a 
poor fire is not a good steam producer. 
“From not knowing how to select the 
right food to fit my needs, I suffered 
grievously for a long time from stomach 
troubles’” writes a" lady from a little 
town in Missouri. 
“It seemed as if I would never be 
able to find out the sort of food that 
was best for me. Hardly anything that 
I could eat would stay on my stom¬ 
ach. Every attempt gave me heartburn 
and filled my stomach with gas. I got 
thinner and thinner until I literally be¬ 
came a living skeleton and in time, was 
compelled to keep to my bed. 
' “A few months ago I was persuaded to 
try Grape-Nuts food, and it had such 
good effect from the very beginning 
that I have kept up its use ever since. I 
was surprised at the ease with which 
I digested it. It proved to be just what 
I needed. 
“All my unpleasant symptoms, the 
heartburn, the inflated feeling which 
gave me so much pain disappeared. 
My weight gradually increased from 98 
to 116 pounds, my figure rounded out, 
my strength came back, and I am now 
able to do my housework and enjoy it. 
Grape-Nuts food did it.” Name given 
by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. 
A ten days’ trial will show anyone 
some facts about food. 
Read the little book. “The Road to 
Wellville,” in pkgs. “There’s a reason.” 
Ever read the above letter? A new one 
appears from time to time. They cure genu¬ 
ine, true, and full of human interest. 
1 
Chalmers “30” Touring Car, 
5-Passenger,—$1500 
Includin'* magneto, Prest-O-Lite tank, 
gas lamps, oil tamps, top, windshield, 
ventilated fore-doors, horn, tools 
“Guaranteed Sound” 
W HEN you go to a horse 
market, ask the price of 
a horse, and a reputable dealer 
replies, “$200 and guaranteed 
sound,” you know that with 
this statement he guarantees 
the horse to have good eyes, good 
ears, good hoofs, sound bones, and 
to be free of disease. 
“Guaranteed sound” really goes 
back of the horse as he stands be¬ 
fore you, to the sires and dams that 
have preceded him and to the train¬ 
ing and care that he has had. 
Every Chalmers car is guaranteed 
sound — guaranteed in every part 
and particle. We not only guaran¬ 
tee it to be sound the day it is 
delivered; we guarantee a sound 
record behind every Chalmers car 
preceeding it; we guarantee it to 
keep sound; we guarantee service. 
The Chalmers car is a champion; 
a car with a pedigree. A car of 
performance —15,000 satisfied own¬ 
ers prove this. 
It’s when you get down 
under the hood to the heart 
of things that the Chalmers 
guarantee means most. The 
Chalmers motor has been 
the wonder of the automo¬ 
bile world ever since this car 
appearedonthe market;such 
This monogram on' the 
radiator stands for all 
jou can ask m a motor car 
remarkable power in proportion to 
weight, such smoothness and quiet¬ 
ness, such reliability and economy 
had never been known before. 
The Chalmers “30” this year is 
offered fully equipped, for $1500. 
Last year this car sold for $1750 
equipped with magneto, gas lamps, 
top and windshield. 
This year, refined, and improved 
in every possible way,with thorough¬ 
ly ventilated fore-door bodies, inside 
control, magneto, gas lamps, Prest- 
O-Lite tank, and including also 
Chalmers mohair top and windshield 
— $1500! It is the big motor car 
bargain for the 1912 season. 
Every farmer knows that it is best 
in the end to buy good machinery. 
It is worthwhile to pay a little extra 
price in order to be certain that you 
get a good machine in the first place 
— one guaranteed by a company 
able to make good every promise. 
1 
We make also the Chalmers 
“Thirty-six”—$ 1800—a car of greater 
size and power, including Bosch dual 
ignition, self-starter, Conti¬ 
nental demountable rims 
arid many other high-grade 
features. 
A postal card will bring 
you our new catalog and 
the name of dealer nearest 
you. We shall be very glad 
to hear from you. 
Qtalmers Motor Company, Detroit, Mich. 
ii 
The 
Mod 
Wagon 
OUR BOOKLET 
When the Going is Hard 
Contains information that is well worth your 
time to read. The discussion on "A Wheel 
with One Spoke” is worth DOLLARS to you. 
We tell you why a wooden wheel is 
dished, which is something many wagon 
manufacturers do not know. There are about 
twenty-five other articles just as interesting. 
DAVENPORT ROLLER-BEARING 
STEEL FARM WAGON 
There are many reasons why the DAVENPORT is the wagon for the farmer today. 
Among these are: 30% to 50% Lighter Draft, Increased Carrying Capacity, Does Not Carry 
Mud, No Repair Bills, No Tires to Reset, and Many, Many More^_ 
Better Investigate. Write for the booklet and also 
for our Package No. 36. Both sent FREE. 
JOHN DEERE PLOW COMPANY 
Moline, Illinois 
THE ROLLER BEARING 
Farmers 
ELLIS 
CHAMPION 
THRESHERS 
are equally well suited to threshermen 
and ft rain growers desirous of doing their 
own work. Herewith is shown Ellis Cham¬ 
pion No. 2 complete with starker, tailings 
elevator and grain bagger; operated by gasoline, 
steam or tread power. No clogging of straw in these 
threshers. Made in different sizes to meet all needs. 
We also make Tread and Sweep Horse-Power, circular 
and drag saws, ensilage cutters, corn shellers, etc. Send 
for catalog giving full information about these machines. 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGRICULTURAL WORKS , 
Do Your Own Threshing! 
You can save the cost of a tig 
in a few years besides doing the 
work at the most ^ conveni¬ 
ent time 
lt lV4ii ill 
Potistown , Pa. 
DOUBLE ACTION “CUTAWAY” HARROW 
WITH EXTENSION HEAD. Is made especially for Orchard 
work. It will increaseyourcrops25to50per cent. This machine 
will cut from 28 to 30 acres, or will double-cut 15 acres in a day, It 
is drawn by two medium horses. It will move 15,000 tons of earth 
one foot in a day, and can be set to move the earth but little, or at 
so great an angle as to move all the earth one foot. Runs true in line 
of draft and keeps the surface true. 
All other disk harrows have to run in 
half lap. No Tongue Truck needed, 
The Jointed Pole Takes All the Weight Off the Horses’ Necks, 
and keeps their heels away from the disks. 
AA e make 120 Hize8 ami styles of Disk Harrows. 
Every machine fully warranted. 
Send for FREE Booklet with full particulars, 
CUTAWAY HARROW COMPANY, 
839 Main St., HIGGANUM, CONN. 
BIG 
CROPS 
