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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



EQUIVALENT WEIGHTS. 



1,000 pounds burned lime is equivalent to: 

 1,351 pounds hydrated lime. 

 1,786 pounds ground limestone or marl. 

 1,351-1,786 pounds air slaked lime. 

 About 3,000 pounds hardwood ashes. 

 After several years of careful experimenting upon the use of lime on 

 various soils and with many different crops. Dr. H. J. Wheeler of the 

 Ehode Island Experiment Station has made a classification of plants 

 according to their action with reference to lime. 



The following table is based on Wheeler's classification : 



In a number of cases in this state lime has been found to be very 

 beneficial for clover and alfalfa. 



HOW TO APPLY. 



If the lime is being applied for the benefit of any immediate crop, 

 it should be applied, in Avhatever form used, after the plowing has been 

 done and should then be thoroughly harrowed into the surface soil. It 

 is best to make the application some little time before sowing the crop. 



Wliatever form of lime is used, if it is in a fine condition, either as 

 the result of grinding or of slaking, the best method of applying it to the 

 soil is by the use of a lime spreader, of which there ara a number of 

 kinds on the market. The ordinary fertilizer drill does not spread any 

 of these materials well except the very finely ground limestone. 



It is occasionally recommended that lime in whatever form, if in a 

 fine condition, be applied to the soil by hand, much as one would sow 

 grain by hand. In windy weather this method is likely to prove very 

 disagreeable to the sower. At any time unless gloves are used, the lime 

 is very likely to irritate the hands. 



A very satisfactory way is to distribute the material in piles two rods 

 apart each way, and then later each pile can be spread with a shovel 

 over an area extending about one rod in all directions from the pile — 

 each pile is spread so as to cover four square rods of area. A fairly 

 even distribution can be made in this way and the distribution is im- 

 proved when the lime is harrowed into the soil. By this method there 

 will be forty piles to the acre. The amount of material to be put in 

 each pile is foimd by dividing the rate of application in pounds per 

 acre by forty. ]f the rate be 800 pounds per acre 20, (800-4-40) pounds 



