SOURCES OF LIME 



relative values of the various forms and 

 sources of lime has been confined largely to 

 the short period of time that has elapsed 

 since recognition of the lime deficiency of 

 our country's soils. Our agricultural litera- 

 ture contained little about soil acidity 20 

 years ago, and our experiment station tests 

 afford only relatively recent results. Some 

 knowledge of sour soils and the efficacy of 

 lime in their amendment is nearly as old as 

 the history of agriculture, it is true, but 

 answers to the questions uppermost in the 

 minds of men wanting to apply lime to land 

 have been sought only within recent years. 

 The variation in soil types, and in sources 

 of lime, and in preconceived ideas of men 

 drawing conclusions from incomplete data 

 may easily account for failure of our soil 

 scientists to be in the close agreement in 

 statement that would remove all confusion 

 in the public mind. However, the agree- 

 ment respecting the facts is becoming better 

 assured with every added year of investiga- 

 tion, as a siudy of station bulletins shows. 



27 



