280 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



How Much Lime to Apply and How Often. — The general 

 rule may safely be followed" of applying lime in smaller quanti- 

 ties at more frequent intervals than large quantities once in sev- 

 eral years. In the case of light and dry soils, the range of ap- 

 plication would be from 15 to 30 bushels of quicklime per acre, 

 according to the conditions of need. On heavy clay soils and 

 on rich soils, the application may vary from 25 to 75 bushels. 



In rotations of five or six years, one liming will probably suf- 

 fice for the rotation under ordinary conditions. On meadows 

 kept in grass for many years and fertilized exclusively by com- 

 mercial fertilizers, liming on the surface once in five years may 

 be helpful. 



When to Apply Lime. — Autumn is the best time to apply lime 

 on land used for spring crops. It must be kept in mind that 

 quicklime is injurious to many crops, but its power to injure 

 plants is gradually lost by lying in the soil. In case of autumn 

 seeding, the lime can be scattered after plowing and then har- 

 rowed in very thoroughly. For many crops, lime may be applied 

 in the spring with little risk, provided it is worked into the soil 

 very completely. In case of very sour soils, the application of 

 lime in the spring is often very beneficial. 



What Form of Lime and Use. — Of the various forms of lime, 

 it will probably be found that quicklime will prove cheapest, as it 

 is the most concentrated form. This is especially true when the 

 material has to be freighted and drawn some distance. 



How to Apply Lime to the Soil. — Owing to the large lumps 

 usually contained in quicklime, it is not best to attempt to spread 

 it directly upon the soil as this method would not enable one 

 to secure a uniform distribution. The following method will 

 insure more even distribution. The freshly burned lime is 

 placed in heaps 20 feet apart, the amount in each pile depending 

 on the rate of application. Twenty-pound heaps would make 

 about one ton an acre. The heaps are well covered with soil. 

 If the earth is moist, the lime will absorb moisture enough to 

 fall into a fine powder in a few days at most. In case the soil 

 is very dry, throw half a pailful of water or less over each heap be- 

 fore covering it with earth. As soon as the lime has become 

 slaked, it should be spread from the heaps as evenly as possible 

 and then plowed under or preferably harrowed in at once, because 

 the lime is liable to cake with the soil and not yield the best 

 results. 



