284 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



There are several forms of commercial lime which may be r.sed to 

 correct the acidity of the soil, the most importar<t of these being as 

 follows: jrround limestone, or the finely ])nlverized raw rock; brrned 

 lime, or qnick lime, which is ]»roducod from llie raw rock by bnrninu-, 

 the hydralod lime which is Ihe product of the aiiplicatiou of waier 

 to the burned lime; and the air slacked lime, which is the burned lime 

 which has been exposed to the atmos]»here and has partially reverted 

 to the hydrate and carbonate forms. The refuse lime from sugar factor- 

 ies is much the same as the air slacked lime but con.ains in addition a 

 small percentage of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Mail is 

 another available source in many sections of the state. The choice of 

 the form of lime depends ujion the relative price, the chemical composi- 

 tion, fineness of pulverization, cost of freight and hauling, etc. One 

 hundred pounds of carbonate of lime, such as is found in the gronnd 

 limestone and marl is equivalent to seventy-fonr pounds of hydrated lime 

 and fifty-six iiounds of burned lime. When marl or sugar factory lime 

 may be apjilied without too great labor expense, these forms may be 

 the cheai)est that can be secured. In most sections of the state the 

 ground limestone may be had at lower cost than other forms of com- 

 mercial lime. 



The amount of lime required depends upon the degree of the acidity 

 of the soil, but as this is difficult to determine, it is recommended that 

 the lime be applied at the rate of at least two tons per acre of the ground 

 limestone or its equivalent in the other forms. There is no danger of 

 applying too much of the carbonate forms up to several tons per acre and 

 if a medium heavy application is made the value of the application is 

 more certain to be determined and any soil acidity which may exist 

 in the soil will remain corrected for a longer time than if a light ap- 

 plication be made. 



One of the most satisfactory methods of distributing the various 

 pulverized forms of lime is to nse one of the modern lime distributors, 

 of which there are several on the market. Another satisfactory method 

 is to use the manure si>reader, filling the box about I/2 ^"11 with manure 

 and filling the remainder of the box with the lime. Fertilizer attach- 

 ments to grain drills are sometimes used but this method is not so 

 satisfactory when it is desired to apply a fairly large amount i)er acre. 

 If the burned lime is the most convenient form to secure, this should 

 be placed in small piles in the field until it absorbs enough moisture 

 from the soil and air to become finely pulverized and then it may be 

 spread with a shovel. 



INOCULATION OF ALFALFA. 



There is no question as to the importance of the bacteria which are 

 associated with the various leguminous plants. In the absence of the 

 bacteria the nodules do not develop on the roots and the i)lant is not 

 able to take its nitrogen from the atmosphere. The legumionus crop 

 thus becomes a soil robber the same as the non-leguminous crops and 

 the growth is apt to be stunted and the crop unprofitable. 



The red clover is so commonly grown in the Northern states that 

 the bacteria which are as.^ociated with this sjx^cies are thoroughly dis- 

 seminated and artificial inoculation is generally of little if any value. 



