HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



Intelligent I'se of Lime 



Continued from page 1, column 2 



When To Use Lime 



Farmers have their choice of raising- 

 three types of hay crops: (1) Those 

 which can only resist slight acidity in the 

 soil (Alfalfa) ; (2) Those which with- 

 stand medium acidity (Red Clover) ; (3) 

 Those which resist strong acidity (Red 

 Top). Knowing which group of plants 

 he desires to grow, the next step is to 

 know how acid his soil is. This can be 

 quickly found out by taking a series of 

 samples with an auger or spade in several 

 places in the field. Mix these samples 

 and send only a teacupful of the soil to 

 the County Agent, .59 Main Street, North- 

 ampton. With this sample should be sent 

 the following- information: — (1) Seed 

 mixture to be used; (2) Is manure and 

 fertilizer to be used for the seeding? If 

 so, how much and what materials or if 

 no fertilizer treatment is planned, give 

 the treatment last year. With this in- 

 formation an actual prescription for lime 

 can be given you which will result in 

 more dollars in your pockets. 



How To Use Lime 



Lime is of greatest value when 

 thoroughly disced into the soil previous 

 to seeding. An application does not last 

 forever. It is used in the following- 

 ways: (1) To neutralize soil acidity; (2) 

 To gi-ow the crops; (3) Lost by leaching. 

 Under ordinary conditions the equivalent 

 of between 400 and .500 pounds of ground 

 limestone is used each year. 



Recent experimental work proves that 

 exceedingly heavy applications of lime 

 are not only unnecessary but in some 

 cases are even injurious to crops. On 

 soils which are acid enough to interfere 

 with the growth of clovei- only enough 

 lime should be used to correct this con- 

 dition and not enough to bring the soil 

 up so that there is no acidity. This 

 means good news to the users of lime as it 

 means that less lime is recommended per 

 acre than formerly. The following table 

 shows, in terms of ground limestone per 

 acre, the amount needed to grow certain 

 crops on soils of varying acidity. 



Soil Test Shows 

 Crops to Slight Medium Sti-oug 



be growu Acidity Acidity Acidity 



Alfalfa 



sand method; (3) by means of corrosive 

 sublimate. 



The comparative results and costs of 

 the three methods are as follows: 



(1) Corrosive sublimate. The average 

 percent of plants killed by maggots with 

 two applications of corrosive sublimate is 

 less than 2''r. The cost per acre for two 

 applications is approximately ?30. 



(2) Tarred discs. The average per- 

 cent of stand killed by maggots is about 

 67c. The total cost for applying the dies 

 to the plants per acre, is about $40. 



(3) The tar and sand method. The 

 average pei'cent of stand killed by mag- 

 gots is 339; . The total cost per acre for 

 two applications is about $23. 



The corrosive sublimate method was 

 originated three or four years ago in New 

 Jersey, and is the best method of control 

 to date. The method of application is as 

 follows: one (1) ounce of corrosive subli- 

 mate crystals is dissolved in a small 

 amount of warm water, and this solution 

 poured into ten (10) gallons of cold 

 water. Approximately a tablespoonful 

 of this solution is applied to the plant 

 three or four days after being set in the 

 field, and a second application made eight 

 or ten days later. A pail and cup will do 

 rather effective work, or a small hand 

 sprayer can be used. Some have used a 

 watering pot. Selwyn Graham, on his 

 farm in Burlington, conducted a test of 

 the corrosive sublimate method last year, 

 and had excellent results. 



Have you tested the seed left over from 

 last year, yet? It is a good plan not only 

 to test your old seed, but to test the seed 

 that is bought this year as well, and then 

 you -will know definitely how thick to 

 plant it. Early buying of seed is a good 

 plan for the seedsman has his original 

 stock to supply you from, and you have a 

 chance to test it out. An easy way to 

 test is to plant 100 seeds, or 50, in a small 



cigar box filled with loam, and place it 

 behind the stove. Be sure to keep this 

 soil moist. 



In transplanting tomato plants you no 

 doubt realize that a tremendous sa-ving 

 is made by using pots for the last trans- 

 planting. When setting out in the field 

 the last of May, it is often very hot, and 

 when using- pots the plants are not af- 

 fected. Tomatoes may be had ten days 

 to two weeks earlier through this prac- 

 tice, which means more money. Four 

 inch pots are ideal for this purpose, and 

 may be purchased for about $25 per M. 



At the Field Station we have a small 

 amount of the following- seed for sale: 



B. S. T. B. Lettuce. 



Martha Washington Asparagus. 



Crosby Egyptian Beet. 



Hutchinson Carrot. 



Hollow Crown Parsnip. 



CALL 



480 



FOR BATTERY STORAGE 

 THIS WINTER 



BATTERIES 



FOR YOUR 



AUTO OR RADIO 



THE G. P. TROWBRIDGE CO. 



129 King St., Northampton 

 we CALL rOR AND DELIVER BATTERIES 



Red Clover 



|0-1500|1500-3000| 



J 



I 0-1500 |1500-30()()| 



Red Top 



I I 







0-1.500 



*0n soils of strong acidity it is best 

 not to try to grow alfalfa. Try Alsike 

 instead. 



MARKET GARDEN NOTES 



For the past few years the cabbage 

 maggot has done considerable damage on 

 early cabbage and cauliflower. There 

 are three practical methods of control: 

 (1) the tarred discs; (2) the tar and 



POWNAL LIMESTONE 

 vJur best testimonial is our 

 VV holly satisfied customers 

 i^o one can make a mistake in 

 i^\ sking for our 



LIMESTOINB 



"SWEETEINS THE SOIL 



Ask Your Nearest Dealer 

 For Pownal Limestone 



For Prices and Literature Write 



POWNAL LIME CO. 



92 State St. - BOSTON, MASS. 



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