If manure is to be used in preparing for seeding, it is best to keep 

 it relatively near the surface. It should be well worked in with a 

 harrow rather than plowed under, providing its mechanical condition 

 makes thorough incorporation with the soil by harrowing possible. 



In most parts of the state our soils appear to be 

 The Necessity relatively deficient in lime. In soils where this defi- 

 for Lime. ciency is marked, the necessity for liming will be 

 indicated by the following conditions : — 



1. Clovers will either fail absolutely or make a feeble growth. 



2. Sorrel is likely to come in abundantly. 



3. If red top and timothy are sown with the clovers, the red top 

 will do much better relatively than the timothy. 



The reasons for the above results briefly stated are : — 

 (a.) Red top and sorrel can thrive in acid soils. 

 (p.) Neither clover nor timothy will do well in such soils. 



Wherever such results as are above named have been noted, a 

 heavy application of lime will usually be found to be beneficial. 

 Various forms of lime are available. Among the more important are 

 fresh burned lime, air-slaked lime and fine ground lime. 



Of these different forms, the fresh burned or lump lime exercises 

 the most energetic action on the soil. Before application, it should 

 be slaked, either by exposure in small heaps to the weather or by the 

 addition of just enough water to cause it to crumble into a fine, dry 

 powder. The rate of application likely to prove useful is about one 

 ton to the acre. After slaking, the lime should be spread as 

 promptly and as evenly as possible upon the rough furrow, and im- 

 mediately deeply harrowed into the soil, for which operation, the 

 disk or cutaway harrow is usually best. In determining whether it 

 is better economy to purchase fresh burned lime or air-slaked lime, 

 it should be remembered that a ton of the former is equivalent in its 

 action on the soil in most cases to from 3,000 to 3,500 pounds of 

 the latter. 



Fine ground limes are put upon the market in sacks, and are the 

 most convenient form, both for handling and for application ; but 

 they usually cost more in proportion to efficiency than fresh burned 

 lime. 



The effects of liming upon the character of the growth are very 

 clearly shown in the cuts. The soil used in this experiment was 

 taken from one of our fields which was supposed to need liming. A 

 quantity sufficient to fill the two cylinders was first very thoroughly 

 mixed and an equal amount was then placed in each. Both received 



