35 



regards available nitrogen and available mineral elements of plant food, 

 such as phosphoric acid, potash and lime. If available nitrogen is rela- 

 tively abundant, then grasses will predominate ; if the other elements 

 are relatively abundant, while nitrogen is present only in small amounts, 

 the clovers are likely to predominate. If this is to be the case, however, 

 it is important that all the other conditions required by clover shall be 

 right. Good drainage, thorough tillage and freedom from free acid are 

 essential. From many parts of the State come reports that clover does 

 not thrive. This in many cases is doubtless due to the fact that the soil 

 contains free acid. Under such circvimstances a heavy application of 

 lime spread on the rough furrow and deeply worked in with a disc har- 



Effect op Lime on I'uopohtion op Clovek. 



row will be likely to prove effective. The cut which is here presented 

 shows the effect of liming in a striking manner. Both cylinders were 

 tilled with carefully mixed soil, taken froiii one of the fields of the col- 

 lege farm. Both received an application of the same amounts of nitrate 

 of soda, dissolved bone-black and muriate of potash, and in addition one 

 cylinder received an application of lime at the rate of 1 ton per acre. 

 After the application of the fertilizers and the lime, the same kinds and 

 quantities of mixed grass and clover seeds were sown. The result is a 

 most striking demonstration of the eflScacy of lime in bringing a sour 

 soil into condition for the production of clover. 



In order that the clover may have the capacity to take the nitrogen it 

 needs from the air, it must have the assistance of the bacteria which live 

 in nodules (which are about as large as the head of a pin) on its roots. 

 These bacteria can be supplied either by the application of a few hun- 



