1682 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



tankage, should not be mixed with lime materials. Manures and 

 such fertilizers should be used with dilterent crops from those to 

 which lime is applied, or else they may be used with lime after 

 suthcient time has been allowed for the latter to become thoroughly 

 incorporated with the soil. 



In this discussion much has been said about the benefits of 

 lime. However, there may be some danger in its use. It may 

 cause too much plant food to become available, as well as the 

 leaching of nitrogen and the too rapid decay of organic matter. 

 Hence it is necessary to emphasize its use in medium quantities 

 at intervals of five or six years as pre^dously indicated. Also, it 

 must be used in a cropping scheme which is so planned that the 

 organic matter of the soil is maintained. 



The production of large crops by any method except direct 

 addition of plant food — be it by superior tillage, drainage or the 

 use of lime — is an exhaustive process so far as the soil is con- 

 cerned, and necessitates the use of more manure, the growing of 

 more clover and the use of more fertilizers in order to maintain 

 the soil balance. Farmers who use lime must take cognizance of 

 these facts or lime may make their fanns poorer after a few years, 

 instead of better. Used judiciously, lime is a benefit ; used in- 

 judiciously it is a detriment. It is not a fertilizer. Dependence 

 upon lime alone will result in ultimate failure. In the failure to 

 recognize these principles lies the truth of the sayings, '" lime 

 and lime without manure makes both farm and farmer poor," and 

 " lime makes a rich father but a poor son." 



It must be borne in mind that the good effects and the bad 

 effects of liming are operative at the same time. The question 

 as to which shall dominate is a question of soil management. The 

 use of rather small quantities of burned lime, or the use of the 

 milder forms of lime in increased quantities in proper crop rota- 

 tions, in connection with manure and plenty of leguminous crops, 

 will cause constructive work. The use of largo quantities of lime 

 without the use of manure and leguminous crops, and without the 

 consequent attention to the conserv^ation of soil humus, will cause 

 destruction of crop producing power. 



Limestone soils are renowned for their fertility, and have been 

 known to retain their productivity for generations. In the light 



