Improving the Condition of the Soil 



The application of lime to very humiferous 

 and very acid soils — peat, for example — is of para- 

 mount importance. On account of its great acidity 

 this kind of soil solubilises all the salts of potash 

 and phosphates, and in the absence of humates 

 they pass into the subsoil and are washed away. 

 This fact explains the poverty of peat in these 

 elements. 



Soils which are thus naturally impoverished can 

 only be made fertile by the introduction of lime. 

 Until lime is applied, even though larger quantities 

 of manure are applied, the results will only be 

 mediocre and the manures will be lost. It is only 

 after applying lime that manures can be used without 

 risk of w^ste. And limestone cannot take the place 

 of lime completely. 



In very strong clayey land lime tends to improve 

 the texture of the soil. It makes it more friable, 

 less compact, more permeable to water, and therefore 

 earlier and more penetrable by air, and also renders 

 it easier to work. On such soils one frequently 

 finds from four to six tons of lime applied per acre, 

 where i| to 2 tons would really be better, because it 

 must be remembered that the humus already in the 

 soil renders just the same services. 



Lime makes sandy soil more compact, and so 

 hinders the harmful infiltration of air and helps 

 retain the moisture. It must be used cautiously, 

 however, because the introduction of humus to 

 this kind of soil is often a long business. Half a ton 

 of lime to the acre will be sufficient. 



Too much lime destroys what is commonly known 

 as " the old force " of the soil, and so it is a manure — 



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