A LIVING FROM THE LAND 



thrown into a heap and allowed to decay. Such 

 compost is excellent for placing around plants 

 when setting them out, since it holds moisture, 

 supplies fertility and creates optimum conditions 

 for young root growth. Under practical field 

 conditions, humus may be added to soils by 

 spreading animal manures, followed by plowing 

 them down, or by the growing of heavy green 

 crops such as wheat, rye, cowpeas or vetch and 

 turning the entire mass under with the plow 

 when they are at their height. 



Lime and Its Application. Reference has 

 been made to the fact that calcium is an essential 

 plant food and is frequently deficient in soils. 

 As a matter of fact, the great majority of soils 

 are deficient in calcium and their productiveness 

 is inhibited thereby. Lime supplies calcium and 

 also magnesium as food for plants. Its application 

 accomplishes many other desirable things such as 

 correcting soil acidity. The growth of beneficial 

 bacteria is greatly stimulated in a soil that has 

 had its acidity neutralized by the application 

 of lime. This product, therefore, creates a more 

 congenial condition for the growth of bacteria, 

 which, in turn, make for better crop production. 

 Lime is also beneficial through furnishing the 

 element calcium with which other plant foods 

 combine chemically and thereby become soluble 

 in the soil water. Unless plant foods are in a 



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