RIGHT USE OF LIME IN SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



situation that brings the right use of lime on 

 land to the front as a matter of fundamental 

 importance to the farmer. 



Causes of Soil Acidity. If any discus- 

 sion of the causes of soil acidity would 

 delay a decision to apply lime where 

 needed, the time given to such discussion 

 would be worse than wasted. It is much 

 more important to be able to detect the 

 presence of harmful acids and to neutralize 

 them than it is to know why the soil should 

 be in such plight that it could not supply 

 the required lime and had become depend- 

 ent upon its owner for assistance. On the 

 other hand, some of us find it difficult to 

 accept a fact without seeing a reason for it, 

 and we may do well to consider several 

 causes that may be at work to put a soil out 

 of the alkaline class. 



Leaching. One cause that appears ob- 

 vious and easy of acceptance is leaching. 

 In the case of one Pennsylvania farm, lying 

 in a limestone valley, the lime had been 

 washed out by action of water so freely that 

 caverns formed under the surface, and a 

 test showed a marked deficiency in the top 

 soil. This land ceased to grow clover, and 

 plantain and sorrel abounded. This case, 



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