Lime, Its Value and Importance 1083 



of this it must appear rather absurd that any ordinary application 

 of lime will injure any soil. The real trouble in many cases 

 where lime has been said to cause injury is the lack of nitrogen 

 and organic matter. This is often the case where as yet but 

 little liming has been done. These conditions are due to poor 

 rotations — in the majority of cases to none at all — and to a 

 very common disregard for the proper method of the preservation 

 and use of stable manure. The poor conditions have come about 

 independently of the use of lime. The above statement is made 

 to show that many of the unfavorable results attributed to the 

 use of lime are in reality due to poor methods of farm manage- 

 ment. Sometimes the use of lime is a convenient scapegoat, an 

 excuse for poor results, just as fertilizers are at times unjustly 

 condemned and with no more reason. 



