CHAPTER X 

 FRESH BURNED LIME 



An Old Practice. The beneficial effect 

 of caustic lime on land is mentioned in some 

 ancient writings. Burning and slaking 

 afforded the only known method of reduc- 

 ing stone for use in sour soils. Lime in this 

 form not only is an effective agent for cor- 

 recting soil acidity, but it improves the 

 physical condition of tough and intractable 

 clays, rendering them more friable and easy 

 of tillage. Caustic lime also renders the 

 organic matter in the soil more quickly 

 available, an increase in yield quickly fol- 

 lowing an application. These three effects 

 of burned lime brought it into favor, and a 

 rational use would have continued it in 

 favor. 



Irrational Use. The ability of caustic 

 lime to improve the physical condition of 

 land and to make inert plant food available 

 has led many farmers to treat it as a substi- 

 tute for manure, sods and commercial fer- 

 tilizers. Immoderate use gave increased 

 crop yields for a time, and the inference was 



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