Lime, Its Value and Importance 1679 



hydrated lime or limestone. Quicklime must first bo slaked by 

 placing it in piles in the field as it is unloaded from the car. After 

 it slakes it can be spread from a wagon or with a manure spreader. 

 Hydrated lime and ground limestone are evenly distributed with 

 a lime or fertilizer spreader. The fertilizer attachment to the 

 modern grain drill is also satisfactory, provided it is so constructed 

 that it has sufficient capacity. 



In New York State 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of quicklime or its 

 equivalent will give good results on general farms where a rotation 

 with clover is grown. In such cases the above amount may be 

 used once every rotation period, preferably applied to the grain 

 crop with which the clover is seeded. For alfalfa, usually even 

 twice as much is needed as previously mentioned. If lime is used 

 in a rotation with potatoes let it be applied to the crop of seeding 

 which follows the potato crop. On farms where rotations are not 

 followed, a general suggestion is, use lime at intervals of four to 

 eight years. On farms where definite rotations are followed it may 

 be used once in every rotation period when seeding to clover. In 

 all cases it should be used at least often enough to insure good 

 clover. 



It makes but little difference when lime is applied except that 

 it should be put on the soil after, rather than before plowing, so 

 it will not be buried too deeply. The harrowing of the land in 

 l^reparation for the coming crop will aid in securing a good dis- 

 tribution of it. If possible, liming should be done in a slack season, 

 and by all means should be hauled when the roads are good. 



LIME NECESSARY FOR CLOVER 



It is a matter of experience that where clover is failing, applica- 

 tions of lime prove very beneficial. Most farmers realize that 

 clover growing is at the bottom of success in nearly all systems of 

 farming. Because of this and because in the past few years so 

 much has been said about the use of lime, there is some likelihood 

 that too much importance may be attached to its use, and soils be 

 neglected in other regards. Such mistakes should be guarded 

 against. There should be no misunderstanding regarding the fact 

 that lime can in no sense take the place of other plant foods, of 



