WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY LIME 



245 



material. Coarse material may be used for subsequent applica- 

 tions. For quick results, lump lime, hydrated lime or finely 

 divided air-slaked lime may be used. Pulverized limestone, marl, 

 ground shells, or marble dust is usually preferred on sandy soils. 

 Lump and air-slaked lime may also be used, but never in excessive 

 amounts. On acid peats and mucks, lump lime, hydrated lime and 

 fine air-slaked lime are good. 



Ordinarily, the best agricultural lime to use is that material 

 which is finely divided and which contains the most lime, or car- 

 bonate equivalent, in a dollar's purchase (all cost and labor to 

 get it applied to be considered). It is important, therefore, to 

 know the moisture and lime, or carbonate, content of any material 

 before buying. Whenever agricultural lime is secured through 

 transportation, it is cheapest to purchase it in carload lots. 



Amounts of Lime to Apply. The following rates of application 

 to the acre may serve as guides in liming: 



One ton pulverized limestone, marl 



On light soils (per 



acre) 



Of slight acidity 



Of strong acidity 



or shell dust (preferred) 

 500 to 1000 pounds lump lime or 1 



ton air-slaked lime 

 Two to 4 tons pulverized limestone, 



marl or shell dust (preferred) 

 One to \ 1 A tons lump lime, or from 



2 to 3 tons air-slaked lime 



tons pulverized limestone, 



On the heavier soils 

 (per acre) 



f One to 

 (Of slight acidity On < 



{ or hydrated lime 



ton lump 



Two to 4 tons pulverized limestone, 

 or other carbonate. (Heavy appli- 

 cations for crops like alfalfa, clover 

 Of strong acidity \ and peas) 



One and one-half to 2 tons lump 

 lime. (Especially good for clay 

 loams and clays) 



The coarser or more wet the material, the heavier should be 

 the application. 



Poor acid soils are in greater need of lime than rich acid soils. 



When and How to Apply Lime. In liming it is well to remember 

 that the place for lime is in the soil and not on top of it; and the 

 more thoroughly it is mixed with the soil, the better the results. 

 Commonly, the full effect does not show until two to four years 

 after the lime application is made. Any rational method whereby 

 lime may become thoroughly incorporated in the soil is recom- 

 mended (Fig. 160). 



