272 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  26,  1903. 
Lime,  and  its  Application  to  the  Soil. 
There  are  various  substances  which  are  beneficial  to  soils  at 
certain  time.s,  although  they  add  neither  humus  nor  direct  .soluble 
irlant  food.  Lime  is  one  of  these,  for  though  it  cannot  be  reckoned 
as  a  food  in  itself,  yet  it  forms  an  exceedingly  important, 
if  not  an  ab.solutely  neces.sary  ingredient  in  all  fertile  .soils, 
from  the  fact  that  it  possesses  the  power  of  making  other  sub¬ 
stances  available  that  are  already  present. 
Lime  has  for  centuries  been  extensively  used  as  a  fertiliser, 
notwithstanding  that  its  action  has  not  been  well  understood 
by  the  practical  man,  and  consequently  serious  mistakes  have 
occasionally  occurred  by  its  indiscriminate  use. 
Most  soils  contain  all  the  elements  of  plant  food  in  varying 
quantities,  yet,  however  abundant  the  presence  of  most  of  these 
constituents  may  be,  if  any  one  of  them  be  absent  the  soil  is 
incapable  of  yielding  satisfactory  crops,  either  of  fruit,  flowers, 
or  vegetables.  Lime  cannot  be  classed  among  these  deficient 
sub.stances,  for  although  it  enters  into  the  compo.sition  of  almost 
all  forms  of  vegetable  life,  its  various  compounds  are  so  widely 
and  generally  distributed  that  it  would  be  a  very  rare  circuin- 
stance  for  any  sample  of  ordinary  fertile  soil  to  be  found  on 
analysis  not  to  contain  sufficient  lime  for  the  requirements  of 
any  cultivated  plant.  Then  the  question  naturally  arises,  How 
is  lime  a  fertiliser? 
What  Lime  Does. 
Anything  is  a  true  fertiliser  which  causes  a  plant  to  make 
more  vigorous  growth  and  yield  a  better  crop.  Lime  answmrs 
this  purpose  in  two  days ;  first,  chemically,  and  second,  mechani¬ 
cally.  First  as  to  its  chemical  action.  All  ijlant  food  to  be 
available  must  be  in  a  soluble  condition,  otherwise  it  is  like 
human  food  under  lock  and  key.  All  soils  contain  vegetable 
and  animal  matters  in  varying  propoiTions,  and  in  various  stages 
of  decomposition.  Now,  lime  in  its  caustic  .state  is  cue  of  the 
most  powerful  agents  of  decomposition  that  exist  in  Nature. 
Where  from  defective  drainage,  or  excessive  accumulations  of 
organic  matter,  or  other  cau.ses,  the  soil  is  sour,  and  where, 
therefore,  the  organic  matter  does  not  readily  decay,  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  caustic  lime  corrects  the  acidity  and  effects  most  won¬ 
derful  changes.  Thei  previously  inert  or  locked-uij  chemical 
substances  in  the  soil  are  set  free  and  yield  abundant  supply  of 
available  plant  food ;  and  not  only  doe.s  the  lime  assist  in  the 
decay  of  vegetable  matters,  but  it  decomposes  mineral  com- 
.  pounds  containing  potash  and  phosphoric  acid.  In  other  words, 
it  changes  potential  into  active  plant  food.  Further,  lime  and 
its  compounds  frequently  react  with  injurious  mineral  ingre¬ 
dients  in  the  soil,  producing  useful  or  harmless  substances,  such, 
for  instance,  as  the  action  of  gypsum.''(.sulpliate  of  lime)  on  car¬ 
bonate  of  soda,  which  converts  it  into  a  harmless  neutral  salt. 
Another  chemicaf  use  of  lime  is,  that  when  applied  to  soils 
in  moderate  quantities,  it  tends  to  .  proinote  nitrification  by 
assisting  the  micro-organisms  in  their  work  of  destruction  by 
breaking  up  the  dormant  plant  food,  and  rendering  it  available. 
Dead  plants  or  other  organic  matters  can  serve  as  new  plant 
food  only  when  they  are  decomposed  and  have  been  converted 
by  nitrification  into  ammonia  and  nitrates. 
Secondly,  tlie  inechanical  action  of  lime  on  heavy  clay  soils 
is  an  important  aid  to.  fertility,  from  the  fact  that  it  improves 
the  physical  character  of  the  soil,  making  it  more  friable  and 
workable,  thereby  giving  free  access  to  air  and  moisture.  This 
latter  is  a  necessary  factor  for  the  full  activity  of  the  micro¬ 
organisms  that  exist  in  the  soil.  This  mechanical  action  of  lime 
is  shared  by  several  of  its  compounds,  such  as  gypsum,  crushed 
chalk,  pulverised  shells,  marl,  &c.  Old  mortar  and  lime  rubbish 
is  extremely  effective  on  heavy  soils  owing  to  its  caustic  nature 
and  the  rapidity  with  which  in  this  case  nitrate  of  lime  is 
formed  in  the  soil.  This  is  one  of  the  most  quickly  acting  of  all 
plant  foods. 
Quantity  of  Lime  to  be  Applied. 
Ihe  quantity  of  lime  applied  per  acre  will,  of  course,  vary 
with  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  other  circumstances.  Soils  w'hich 
contain  much  organic  matter,  such  as  very  old  kitchen  gardens, 
or  turf  soils  when  brokeai  up  for  cultivation  and  potting  pur¬ 
poses,  require  a  copious  ajiplication ;  while, soils  which  are  not 
rich  in  organic  matter,  or  which  posses.s  a  thin  surface  mould, 
need  only  a  light  dressing.  Too  much  moisture  in  a  soil  inter- 
feres_  Muth  the  action  of  lime.  Hence,  wet  lands  require  a 
hea.vier  application  than  those  which  are  naturally  dry,  or  those 
which  have  been  made  so  by  drainage.  On  light  sandy  soils 
the  application  of  heavy  doses  of  Ihne  is  to  be  avoided,  and 
it  IS  found  most  advantageous  to  add  it  to  such  soil  in  the  form 
of  compo.st  only. 
As  to  the  quantity  to  be  applied,  about  three,  six,  and  nine 
tons  of  caustic  lime  may  be  considtred  respectively  to  represent 
light  medium,  and  heavy  dres.sings  per  acre,  and 'the  effect  will 
last  from  eight  to  twelve  years  according  to  conditions.  It  is  a 
good  iiractice  to  give  a  sprinkling  of  lime  to  farmyard  or  stable 
manure  at  the  time  of  digging  this  into  the  soil,  thereby  hasten¬ 
ing  its  fermentation  and  nitrification.  In  glass  house  culture, 
where  farmyard  manure  is  extensively  used,  quicklime  (slaked) 
should  be  used  in  combination  with  the  dung,  and  to  stop  the 
acidity  of  the  soil  from  the  very  frequent  waterings  which  are 
rendered  necessary,  frequent  small  dressing;s  of  lime  should  be 
made  to  the  surface  and  raked  in. 
Use  of  Lime  in  Fruit  Growing. 
It  is  a  matter  of  commen  observation  that  in  the  production 
of  .stone  fruits,  and  also  of  Grapes  on  account  of  their  seeds, 
lime  is  a  very  important  constituent.  The  mineral  substance 
(that  is  the  ashes)  of  Cherries  will  contain  from  seven  to  eight 
per  cent,  of  lime.  Plums  over  ten  per  cent..  Damsons  tivelve  to 
thirteen  per  cent.  ;  while  eight  samples  of  Grapes  of  different 
varieties  showed  on  analysis  upwards  of  thirteen  per  cent,  of 
lime.  One  of  the  functions  of  lime  is  to  strengthen  the  stems 
and  woody  portions  of  the  trees,  and  to  shorten  the  period  of 
growth,  tlierehy  hastening  the  time  of  ripening.  Fruit  trees 
growing  in  soils  rich  in  lime  show  a  stocky,  stout,  vigorous 
growth,  and  the  fruit  ripens  well;  while  those  growing  on  soils 
which  contain  but  little  lime,  particularly  the  clays,  appear  to 
have  an  extended  period  of  growth,  the  result  of  which  is  that 
the  wood  does  not  mature,  and  the  fruit  does  not  ripen  so  well 
as  it  is  desirable. — J.  J.  Willis,  Harpenden. 
Camellias. 
The  cult  of  the'  Camellia  seems  to  hang  in  the  balance,  and  it 
is  daring  on  the  part  of  anyone  to  say  that  they  are  enjoying  an 
increased  popularity  to-day,  though,  on  the  other  hand,  one  knows 
that  their  claims  are  constantly  .supported  by  many  who  devote 
attention  and  devotion  tO'  them.  Would  that  a  real  revival  were 
to  be  recorded,  for  they  are  gloriously  beautiful  and  handsome 
old  plants.  Even  for  their  glossy,  leather-textured,  and  deep 
dark  green  leaves  the  plants  deserve  a  place  with  other  orna¬ 
mental  greenhouse  subjects,  and  then  when  their  splendidly 
rounded,  waxy  and  brilliant  flowers  cluster  and  bedeck  the 
branches,  what  a  happy  show  they  furnish !  We  have  only  to 
look  at  the  index  of  the  early  volume's  of  “  The  Cottage  Gardener  ” 
to  notice  how  fully  their  treatment  and  their  peculiarities  were 
then  considered,  to  form  the  conclusion  that  too  little  is  written 
in  their  behalf  in  these  days. 
Camellias  are  much  hardier  than  we  wot  of,  and  Sir  Francis 
T.  Barry’s  notes  in  the  Journal  (page  95),  may  have  given  others 
greater  confidence  to  attempt  their  outdoor  culture  along  the  line 
of  the  Thames  and  soutlnvard.  And,  of  course,  a  cool  green¬ 
house  is  all  they  require  at  any  time.  Too  frequently,  however, 
they  are  relegated  to  some  ramshackle  old  structure  where  they 
become  coated  with  soot  and  dust  and  dirt,  and  their  shoots  are 
crowded  and  iveakly,  and  altogether  they  are  soon  unsightly 
objects.  While  grand  specimen  plants  are  much  to  be  prized, 
we  do  not  advocate  their  general  adoption.  Feiv  gardens  have 
the  space  neces.sary  for  them ;  but  wei  do  most  earne.stly  com¬ 
mend  a  collection — a  varied  collection- — of  well-grown,  clean, 
robust,  bushy  pot-plants.  T'o  see  three  or  four  huge  Camellias 
totally  monopolising  a  central  bed  in  a  conservatory  to  the  obscu¬ 
ration  and  detriment  of  many, of  the  other  subjects  in  the  house, 
causes  at  once  the  conviction  that  the  gardener  in  charge  is  not 
endowed  wiin  the  fullest  qualities  of  his  profession,  or  the  pride 
that  is  supposed  to  go  with  it.  Nor  will  the  respect  and  appre¬ 
ciation  for  Camellias  be  likely  to  be  advanced  in  thfe  minds  of 
those  -who  view  these  out-of-place  specimens.  In  the  open  air, 
Jiave  your  giants,  or  in  magnificent  houses  like  the  great  conser¬ 
vatory  at  Sion,  or  the  Temperate  House  at  Kew,.  and  elsewdiere, 
but  in  compact,  minor  gardens  it  would  be  well  to  rely  on  pot- 
plants. 
The  culture  is  difficult?  Sometimes  it  seems  so,  but  all  may 
succeed  by  persevering  care,  and  the  most  floriferous  plants  be 
ensured.  Once  ivell-established.  Camellias  do  not  improve  with 
frequent  repqttings ;  tliej^  are  best  top'-dressed,  and  fed  with 
manurial  liquids  during  the  period  of  their  growth.  Where  re¬ 
potting  is  advisable,  this  is  best  done  after  the  flowering  has  just 
finished.  They  may  also  then  be  pruned.  The  manner,  the 
amount,  and  the  periods  of  watering,  and  the  comfort  they  most 
demand  careful  consideration.  We  hope  to  furnish 
cultural  details  from  time  to  time. 
Comiiig  to  varieties,  a  selection  ought  to  include  the  beautiful 
Pseony-like  single  crirasonj  reticulata — a  gorgeous  flower  at  its 
be.st ;  and  the  following  varieties  of  O.  japonica:  alba  plena, 
Dmickelaari,  candidissima,  fimbriata  alba,  Hume’s  Blush, 
Counte.ss  of  Orkney,  eximia,  Mathotiana,  and  Sarah  Frost.  All 
of  these  are  good,  and  others  could  be  added. 
