130 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



with just enough water to cause it to crumble into a fine, dry powder 

 before appHcatioii; (2) granulated lime, which can be spread at 

 once, when it will slake in the soil; (3) the coarse lime, separated 

 from the finer in the manufacture of h3'drated lime by the modern 

 method. This lime is suitable for immediate application and when 

 mixed with the soil will take up moisture and slake. Either the 

 granulated lime or the grade last referred to should prove especially 

 effective for iinproving the texture and tilth of the heavy soils. 



For use on the lighter soils, one of the so-called "agricultural" 

 limes, which are in considerable measure made up of carbonate or 

 air-slaked lime, will prove satisfactory. 



There appear to be but few sections of the State where a com- 

 paratively heavy dressing of lime is not a necessity for satisfactory 

 results with alfalfa. The cut clearly illustrates the benefit which 

 usually follows. 



Alfai>fa. 



-.-J ■ —J.-.-.:.^— ^--.■- »itt-'«--J 



No Lime. Lime. 



The alfalfa shown in the cut is growing in cylinders 4 feet deep, 

 which were first set into the ground. They were each then filled with 

 equal quantities of thoroughly mixed soil. With the surface soil of 

 one cylinder, lime at the rate of IJ tons per acre was thoroughly 

 mixed. The other was left without lime, and both then received a 

 liberal application of fertilizers. Under the conditions of this ex- 

 periment we know that the soil in the two cylinders was of precisely 

 the same character at the start, and the difference in growth must 

 surely have been due to the influence of the lime. 



