FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 159 



soils, and improve poor sanitary coiulitions to a remarkable degree in 

 some instances. In a word, tlie nse of lime slionld he looked upon as 

 being ONE of the factors in good soil management. 



Question: What is the comparative value between hydrated lime and 

 ground stone? 



Answer: In answering that question I will have to say, that the most 

 soluble form is oxide, or hydrated. If you can get the carbonate lime 

 finely divided it nearly approaches it. 



Question: Is marl injured by freezing? 



AnsAver: Most marls are improved by freezing. 



Question: If we have marls that are 95% and we can buy that lime 

 for 50c a load, which would be li/^ yards, would be the cheapest product 

 to put upon land? 



A. Yes, if the labor cost of application did not exceed that of a more 

 concentrated form, as the hydrate. 



Q. How about the lime from tanneries? 



A. We have found samples that contained 85-95% carbonate with a 

 small per cent of nitrogen. 



Q. So many of our lakes have a heavy deposit of marl — would you 

 let it freeze on shore? 



A. In answer to that question I will say the efficiency of the appli- 

 cation of lime will depend largely how thoroughly you incorporate it 

 in the upper 3 or 4 inches of soil, in order to get it distributed uni- 

 formly throughout the soil, so that it will go into solution. That being 

 the case, many marls will be improved by freezing, but in many places 

 in this State it is hauled out of the deposit right on the ground. 



Q. Will the coarse ground limestone become available? 



A. The coarse ground will go into solution in time, but there must 

 be a larger application to get the same results. It always becomes 

 available sometime, but it does not all readily manifest itself. 

 , Q. How long should ten mesh become available under our condition? 



A. I could not say. 



Q. How much lime do you apply to the soils of sandy nature? 



A. The average acidity of 100 samples required about 3,000 pounds 

 per acre. Some required 8,000 pounds and some not nearly so much. 



Q. Do you have reference to ground limestone in these figures? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. For how long a period? 



A. It will be most frequent on sandy soil, inasmuch as the loss by 

 leaching is greatest in such soils, about four or five years, depending 

 upon the methods of management. 



Prof. McCool: I always appreciate the opportunity of meeting with 

 an organization of this kind in Michigan. I am personally anxious to 

 meet and to keep in touch with farmers and fruit-growers wherever I 

 can. I may not always have a message, but even then it isi not a dead 

 loss for if I do not succeed in giving out anything, by coming in contact 

 with people of practical experience, I always get something myself. 



