CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



Lime deficiency and its resulting ills would not 

 exist as generally as is now the case if the applica- 

 tion of lime to land were not expensive and dis- 

 agreeable. These are deterrent features of wide 

 influence. There continues hope that the clover 

 will grow successfully, as occasionally occurs in 

 a favorable season, despite the presence of some 

 acid. The limitation of yields of other staple 

 crops is not attributed to the lack of lime, and the 

 proper soil amendment is not given to the land. 



Where Clover is not Wanted. The ability 

 to grow heavy red clover is a practical assurance 

 that the soil's content of lime is sufficiently high. 

 When clover fails on account of a lime deficiency, 

 the work of applying lime may not be escaped by 

 a shift in the farm scheme that permits the elimina- 

 tion of clover. The clover failure is an index of 

 a condition that limits the yields of all staple crops. 

 The lack of lime checks the activity of bacteria 

 whose office it is to prepare plant-food for use. 

 The stable manure and sods decompose less readily 

 and give smaller results. Soil poisons accumulate. 

 Mineral plant-food in the soils becomes available 

 more slowly. Physical condition grows worse. 



The limitations of the value of manure and com- 

 mercial fertilizers applied to land that has a lime 



[16] 



