RATE OF APPLICATION 



113 



oxide, may be used to best advantage. Plant food should not be 

 unlocked more rapidly than the growing crop will use it, other- 

 wise wastes will result. If a field is well supplied with humus and 

 more permanent forms of field crops, such as hay, grain, corn, or 



Fia. 80. Lime may be spread with a manure spreader; if a wooden hood is placed over the 

 beater the dust will not be so badly blown by the wind. (U. S. D. A.) 



cotton, are being grown, it is then better to use ground limestone. 

 Rate of Application. From what has just been said it is evi- 

 dent that light applications of quick lime, or calcium oxide, should 

 be made (1000 pounds to the acre), and this every year or two. 



Fio. 81. The spreading of lime or fertilizer with a machine of this type gives an even dis- 

 tribution. (Ohio Station). 



Heavy applications of pulverized limestone may be used (Fig. 79). 

 Applications of one or two tons to the acre may be used once in 

 four or five years. The use of lime on soil should be adapted to 

 the crop rotation used on the farm. If a three -year rotation is 

 used with clover as one crop in that rotation, it is well to apply 

 8 



