THE NEED OF LIME 



ground is not too badly infested with seed, and 

 even then the sorrel must finally give way. Where 

 sorrel and plantain cover the ground that has been 

 seeded to clover and grass, the evidence is strong 

 that the soil conditions are unfriendly to the better 

 plants on account of a lime deficiency. The ex- 

 perienced farmer who notes the inclination of 

 his soil to favor alsike clover, red-top, sorrel, and 

 plantain should infer that lime is lacking. If 

 doubt continues, he should make a test. 



The Litmus-paper Test. A test of fair relia- 

 bility may be made with litmus paper. A pack- 

 age of blue litmus paper can be bought for a few 

 cents at any drug store. This paper will turn 

 pink when brought into contact with an acid, and 

 will return to a blue if placed in lime-water. A drop 

 of vinegar on a sheet of the paper will bring an 

 immediate change to pink. If the pink sheet be 

 placed in lime-water, the effect of the lime in 

 correcting the acidity will be evidenced by the 

 return in color to blue. 



To test the soil, a sample of it may be put into 

 a basin and moistened with rain-water. Several 

 sheets of the blue litmus paper should be buried 

 in the mud, care being used that the hands are 

 clean and dry. When one sheet is removed within 



[19] 



