SOILS. CROPS AND FERTILIZERS. 



33 



Lime 



Lime is a sreat aid to soil fertility. It sweetens sour lands, decomposes 

 organic matter, liberates potash, renders clay more friable, makes sandy soils 

 less porous, is one of the primary constituents of plant life, encourages 

 clovers. 



If absolutely pure lime is used it should contain 56% of lime or cal- 

 cium or magnesium oxide and 44% carbon dioxide gas. This latter is dis- 

 charged as gas when lime is burnt and thus in burning 100 lbs. of pure 

 limestone we have but 50 lbs of actual lime left; there 100 lbs. of actual 

 lime require 179 lbs. of stone lime to burn. The finest limes are quick, 

 hydrated and marl. Agricultural lime or Caledonia marl is the most profit- 

 able, satisfactory and economical. It gives quick results. It can be applied 

 at any time. 



MATERIALS FOR BUILDING MANURE PITS 



Rules to be Observed in Purchasing Artificial Fcrtib'zers 



The purchaser ought always to de- 

 mand a guarantee of the percentage 

 contents of the various fertilizing 



ingredients in the fertilizer, as well 

 as of the materials used as a source 

 of the same. In nitrate of s^oda and 

 sulphate of ammonia, the nitrogen 

 content will have to be guaranteed. 



In basic slag, of the total phosphoric 

 acid, 80 per cent, oughit to be soluble 

 in citrate solution. The potash salts, 

 both muriate and sulphate, contain 

 50 per cent, actual potash, and when 

 purchased in the original sacks (225 

 lbs.), with lead seal attached, the 

 purchaser may be confident that the 

 goods are genuine. 



Never Mix 



Farmyard manure and lime. 

 Guano and lime. 

 Guano and boric slag. 

 Nitrate and superphosphate. 

 Sulphates and slag. 

 Superphosphate and slag. 

 Lime with sulphate of ammonia. 



The Following May Be Mixed: 



Superphosphate and sulphate of 



ammonia. 

 Bone and nitrate of soda. 

 Bone and sulphate of ammonia. 

 Bone and slag. 

 Slag and nitrate of soda 

 Guano and mineral manure. 

 Organic manures with any mineral 



manures. 



