The Canadian Horticulturist. 309 



THE VALUE OF LIME. 



IME is one of those elements of the soil which is essential to the 

 growth of plants and trees, and when it is properly used a vast 

 difference in the growth of the vegetation is noticeable All farmers 

 and horticulturalists use it in many ways, but it is probably as often 

 abused as used. The full and direct effects of lime upon plants 

 under all conditions have not yet been fathomed, but enough 

 knowledge concerning its general effect is possessed for one to use 

 it intelligently on many crops. In the vegetable garden lime is invaluable. It 

 is the best preventive and check for mildew on cucumbers and diseases of 

 potatoes As soon as the cucumber vines show signs of the diseases the 

 powdered lime should be sprinkled over every part of the plants that are affected, 

 and the operation repeated after rain so long as there are any signs of mildew. 

 If one watches the plants early in the spring, and applies the lime as soon as 

 the disease manifests itself, it will never be allowed to make much progress, but 

 sometimes in the case of plants being nearly dried up with the disease the lime 

 will give them new life and growth. Potato stalks are often dried and eaten up 

 by diseases, and this can also be prevented by an early application of the 

 powdered lime sifted ovei the stalks with a fine sieve. The work on this crop, 

 however, must be done early. If the disease is allowed to progress so much as 

 to half eat the plants up the powdered lime has but little effect. If the disease 

 has shown itself in spots all over the field it will pay to sprinkle the lime on all 

 the plants, even though no signs of the disease can be seen in many places. It 

 will prevent a breaking out in new places. Many potato fields could be saved 

 from partial or total destruction in this way if the lime were used freely early in 

 the season. Lime water is a great disinfectant and destroyer of insect life, and 

 it will be needed in the summer time for many purposes. Caterpillars and tree 

 grubs and insects die upon its application, and many orchards are saved from 

 great ravages by its use. Gardens and lawns frequently need it in the spring of 

 the year. It should be sprinkled over the grass lawn just before a rain, so that 

 the water will soak it into the ground. The grubs and worms in the soil as a 

 result will burrow far down in the soil to escape its destructive effects or crawl 

 rapidly up to the surface of the ground for air and sunlight. The chickens 

 should then be turned upon the lawn to pick up the dead or squirming worms 

 and grubs. This is the most effectual way of clearing grass lawns of this pest. 

 The flowers, plants and shrubs also need lime water when infected by worms 

 and bugs. An application to the gooseberry and currant bushes will drive the 

 bugs and ants away, and a similar treatment of the flowers will make the snails 

 and bugs slink away to parts unknown. If the application is renewed occasion- 

 ally the insects will continually avoid the shrubbery thus treated. — American 

 Cultivator. 



