162 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the soil only in contact with one side of the paper, and 

 observe if the bhie color of the exposed side changes to red, 

 if so, the soil is acid. 



In case a soil contains any considerable excess of carbon- 

 ate of lime or magnesia, the humus will be mostly held in 

 combination, insoluble in ammonia water; while on many 

 soils, if ammonia water dissolves large quantities of humus, 

 there is a probable lack of lime. This test, which cannot 

 take the place of the litmus paper test, but which may well 

 supplement it, is made as follows : Take two glasses, add 

 to each about two level teaspoonfuls of soil, fill the glasses 

 about half full of water, and add to one a teaspoonful of 

 ammonia water. Stir each thoroughly, using in each a dif- 

 ferent stirrer. If, after two or three hours, the liquid in the 

 one without the ammonia water is practically clear and col- 

 orless, and that in the other is quite dark brown or black, 

 it may be concluded, provided the same soil reddened blue 

 litmus paper, that it needs lime. 



Before purchasing large quantities of lime it is well to 

 make a small test in a practical way. Lay out two plots of 

 land, twelve by fifteen feet, separated from each other by a 

 space six feet wide. Apply a like weighed amount of any 

 complete commercial fertilizer to each plot. Apply to one 

 plot from ten to twenty pounds of lime, according to the 

 lightness or heaviness of the soil. Work it in most thor- 

 oughly with a cultivator or rake. Plant a like weight of 

 red table or mangel-wurzel beet seed on each plot. Note 

 the growth and weigh the crop from each plot. If lime 

 proves serviceable, use it judiciously for other crops liable 

 to be helped by it. 



Chlorine, Soda, Sulfur, Iron, etc. 

 The question of soda has been discussed in connection 

 with nitrate of soda. Chlorine, like soda, has been much in 

 dispute as to its being essential to plant growth, but it 

 seems probable that it performs useful functions. Pfeifter 

 has recently recorded an appreciable benefit from its use 

 upon potatoes. It is, however, a constituent of muriate of 

 potash and to some extent of most fertilizers, so that its 

 special application is supposed to be practically unnecessary. 



