CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



light, sandy soil should be given only a small appli- 

 cation, as otherwise physical condition may be 

 injured. The lime, used in excess, has an undue 

 binding effect upon the sand. An application 

 of 1000 pounds of stone-lime per acre can be made 

 with safety. 



Time of Application. The use of lime on land 

 should be associated in the land-owner's thoughts 

 with the growing of clover. It does help soil 

 conditions so that more grain can be produced, 

 but if it is permitted to displace the use of ferti- 

 lizers, and does not lead to the growth of organic 

 matter, harm will result in the end. Lime should 

 be applied to secure clover, and therefore it should 

 be mixed with the soil before the clover is sown. 

 The application may be made when fitting the 

 seed-bed for the grain with which clover usually 

 is seeded, or may be given a year or two years 

 previous to that time. The important point is 

 to have the soil friendly to plant life when a sod 

 is to be made. 



Lime should be put on ground always after 

 the plowing, and it should be well mixed with the 

 surface soil. Even distribution is just as impor- 

 tant in its case as in that of fertilizers. A good 

 practice is to break a sod for corn, harrowing and 



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