MANURING AND FERTILIZING 



every year or two. Wood ashes are also a 

 good source of lime, being about one-third 

 calcium oxide. Thus a large amount of avail- 

 able plant food will be supplied to the tree, and 

 where It is needed should result not only In bet- 

 ter wood growth but In the formation of vigor- 

 ous leaf and fruit buds for the following year. 

 Lime is not usually considered as a fertilizer 

 except on soils actually deficient In It. But 

 It will usually be advisable to apply from 

 one thousand five hundred to two thousand 

 pounds of fresh burned lime or Its equiv- 

 alent. In order to correct any natural soil acid- 

 ity, to hasten the decay of organic material, to 

 increase the activity of the soil bacteria, and 

 to Improve the physical condition of the soil 

 by floculating the soil particles and helping to 

 break up lumpy soils. Lime also helps to 

 liberate plant food by recombinlng It with cer- 

 tain other elements in the soil. All these effects 

 make a more congenial medium for the 

 leguminous crops to grow in, and It Is frequently 

 advisable to use lime for this purpose alone. 

 After this first heavy application about 800 

 pounds of lime should be applied per acre every 

 four or five years. 



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