exact information might, perhaps, give the preference to gypsum. 

 The distinct and limited uses for gypsum are below described, however, 

 to serve as a guide. 



LIME ON HEAVY SOILS 



No determination needs to be made to inform the owner of heavy 

 land if lime is necessary to improve the soil's texture as above de- 

 scribed. The decision both as to the amount to apply and as to the 

 feasibility of applying it must be made on the basis of the cost of 

 lime and the degree of "running together" or baking and cracking, 

 which is characteristic of the soil. From one to two tons of the 

 burnt lime or of the hydrated lime, or from two to four tons of the 

 ground limestone, may be safely applied to improve the working 

 qualities of heavy soils. Application may be made by means of one 

 of the several types of lime spreading machines or the lime may be 

 deposited in piles and spread with a shovel. It should be well plowed 

 in and covered up at a time when there is sufficient moisture in the 

 soil for the lime to act well. 



The burnt lime and the hydrated lime are to be preferred to the 

 carbonate of lime for making heavy soils lighter if the cost will allow. 

 The first two forms act more vigorously and more quickly. Appli- 

 cations of lime are best made prior to fall or winter plowing or one 

 or more months prior to planting. This must particularly be borne 

 in mind if either burnt lime or hydrated lime are employed. 



LIME ON "SOUR" OR ACID SOILS 



If "sour" soils are also heavy clays or clay adobes, the recom- 

 mendations for the use of lime above made for heavy soils are to be 

 followed. If sour soils are loams, silts or sands, the ground limestone 

 is to be preferred to the other forms of lime where it is obtainable. 



To test your soil for sourness or acidity proceed as follows : Mix 

 some of the surface soil to be tested and moisten thoroughly. Mold 

 it into a ball of wet earth about three or four inches in diameter. 

 Break the ball in two and on one of the broken surfaces place two 

 strips of red litmus paper previously moistened with clean boiled 

 water. (Litmus paper, both red and blue, may be obtained in drug 

 stores.) Do not touch the moistened litmus paper with the fingers 

 if possible. Set the broken surfaces of earth together again and 

 press tightly. Perform the same test with another ball of earth, but 



