The Bulletin. 11 



Lime. 



Most legumes fail to grow in acid soils. They require a neutral soil 

 or one free from acidity. There are some exceptions to this general 

 statement which will be noted under the several heads which follow. 



It is often the case that an application of lime even on our sandy 

 soils makes it possible to grow certain of the legumes that can not be 

 made to grow without liming the soil. 



In applying lime regard should be had for the kind of lime to be ap- 

 plied. Caustic or freshly burned lime is very active in attacking humus 

 in the soil and is quick in its action regarding acidity, while unburned 

 lime is less active and larger applications can be made. In caustic or 

 freshly burned lime it is safe to apply from 1,000 pounds to one ton 

 according to the acidity of the soil per acre. This should be slaked with 

 water to the point of being in a fine powder, but not wet and sticky. 



This may be applied by putting the lump lime out in small piles, a 

 peck or half bushel in a pile, and allowing it to slake before scattering 

 it, or it may first be slaked and applied with a lime distributor, a 

 manure spreader, or direct from a wagon. If the latter, the team should 

 be driven against the wind so that the lime would be carried away from 

 the men and from the team. The lime can be shoveled from the wagon 

 and scattered over the land. If a lime distributor or a manure spreader 

 should be used, they should be regulated so as to apply the quantity 

 wanted per acre. 



Fifty-six pounds of well burned unslaked lime is equivalent in lime 

 value to 100 pounds of unburned or carbonate of lime. It is equivalent 

 to 74 pounds of properly made hydrated lime. It is also_ equivalent to 

 100 pounds of lime that has been, exposed to the air for quite a while. 



Hay. 



Most of the legumes when cut at the proper time and well cured 

 make a very fine quality of hay. Where the hay can be used to ad- 

 vantage on the farm, it is much better to make the crop into hay and 

 feed it to live stock ; but if the land needs it more than the live stock 

 does, then it may pay better to turn it under for soil improvement. 

 Each farmer may decide this for himself. However, it may be well to 

 remember that feeding hay to live stock does not add anything to its 

 fertilizing value. Therefore the manure from a given quantity of hay 

 fed to live stock and the manure returned to the land will not contain 

 as much plant food as the grass would have furnished if it had been 

 plowed under instead of having been made, into hay and fed to the live 

 stock. 



Drainage. 



Drainage is essential for good growth and development of the legume 

 families. The bacteria necessary for the growth of the legumes can 

 not. live and perform their work in wet or poorly drained soils, except 

 possibly in the case of cow peas and soy beans, and they do much better 

 in well drained soils than they do in poorly drained soils. Lime and 

 fertilizers seem to be of little avail in wet soils. It will be time and 



