EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



405 



confined to the surface layers of soil until lime is added and worked 

 deeply into the soil. Futhermore, tlie presence of lime in the soil is 

 favorable for the development of bacteria that enter the roots of legumin- 

 ous crops resulting in the fixation in the plants of nitrogen from the soil 

 atmosphere. Organisms that are able in tlie absence of legumes, to remove 

 nitrogen from the air and make it available to plants are likewise bene- 

 fited by lime. It is probable that the amount of nitrogen so made avail- 

 able is small, yet it seems to be worthy of consideration. 



Lime Increases the Efficiency of Fertilhcrs and Manures. Experience 

 teaches that maximum returns from commercial fertilizers, stable and 

 green manures are not obtained when there exists one or more adverse 

 conditions sucli as poor drainage, deficiency of water in the soil, poor 

 tilth, or lack of lime. It is unquestionably true that applications of lime 

 to many of our soils long under cultivation as well as some of th(; 

 newer ones should precede that of fertilizers. If this were done a more 

 economical use of stable and green manures would result. 



Via. 1. — Loft Manure and Limestone. Yield 0.4(!0 rounds I'er Acre : lii;jlif. Muiuire Alone, 

 Yield :!.740 Pounds I'er Acre. — Purdue University. Asricultural Kxperiinent Station. 



Some soils do not contain suflicient lime to meet the needs of tlie crops 

 grown. There is an appreciable amoujit of evidence, contrary to past 

 assumptions, that tlie use of lime on some soils results beneficially be- 

 cause it is needed in plant nutrition, especially is this the -"ase willi 

 such crops as clover or alfalfa, or those that remove large (piantities 

 from the soil. 



FORMS OF LIME. 



Lime is placed on the market in three forms, namel^^ the oxide, the 

 hydrate and the carbonate. 

 These different forms are often given a variety of names. The oxide 



