IDEAL FERTILIZERS 17 



At the recent citrus seminar Mr. Collison, Chemist of 

 the Agricultural Experiment Station, who is making a 

 particular study of soil chemistry and fertilizers, made 

 the statement that though he could not give the maxi- 

 mum amount of crushed limestone which might be ap- 

 plied without harm "ten tons per acre did not approach 

 the danger line." Both Professor Rolfs, Director, and 

 Captain Rose, State Chemist, two men eminently fitted 

 by education and wide experience to pass upon Florida 

 conditions, agreed to his statement. Dean Vernon, of 

 the College of Agriculture, Dr. Flint, Chemist, and Major 

 Floyd, Horticulturist of the University of Florida, and 

 many other scientists, as well as our oldest and most 

 successful growers say we do not use near enough lime 

 and that there is no probability of there being too much 

 crushed limestone applied to the general Florida soil. 

 Hopkins, of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion, mentions a ten-ton per acre application as likely 

 to be beneficial rather than detrimental, while Hilgard, 

 King, Bailey, Van Slyke, and in fact, all agricultural 

 chemists, emphasize the value of plenty of base "prefer- 

 ably carbonate of lime." With this unanimity of all real 

 authorities I think we may rest easy about the question 

 of too much lime, especially as none of us are going to 

 use even five tons per acre. It is to be hoped, though, 

 that the application of two or three tons per acre of 

 crushed limestone followed every four years by at least 

 another ton is going to become general, as our lands 

 need this much base. 



