122 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Lime also affects plant diseases. It lessens the injury of club root, 

 which is often serious in case of turnips, cabbages and other cruciferous 

 plants. It is found to be effective in reducing soil rot of sweet potatoes 

 and checking the' root diseases of alfalfa. On the other hand, lime tends 

 to favor the development of potato scab, providing the germ of this 

 disease is already in the soil. In this case it encourages the disease and 

 becomes a menace rather than an aid. For this reason, lime is seldom 

 recommended for potatoes. If applied in a crop rotation which contains 

 potatoes, it is advisable to apply it just after the potato crop rather than 

 before. 



Injudicious Use of Lime. — The injudicious use of lime may prove a 

 detriment. Lime is not a fertilizer. To depend on it alone will result in 

 failure. In the failure to recognize these principles lies the truth of the 

 old saying, "Lime and lime without manure makes both farm and farmer 

 poorer." 



The excessive use of burnt lime may bring about the availability of 

 more plant food than can be utilized by crops, and cause a rapid loss of 

 it, in which case soil depletion is hastened. It is, therefore, good farm 

 practice to use medium to small quantities at intervals of five or six years. 

 Little is to be gained by applying more than is sufficient to meet the present 

 needs of the soil from the standpoint of neutralizing its acidity. 



Rate of Application. — The amount of lime to apply varies with the 

 kind of lime, the requirements of the soil and the frequency of- its applica- 

 tion. If a soil is a tenacious clay and physical improvement is desired, 

 an application of two or three tons of burnt lime per acre may be profitable. 

 Ordinarily, lime is applied to correct acidity and make the soil friendly 

 to clover and other plants. The equivalent of one to one and one-half 

 tons of burnt lime per acre applied once in each crop rotation is usually 

 a maximum amount. In some instances 1000 pounds per acre will 

 accomplish the desired result. The equivalent of 1000 pounds of burnt 

 lime is between 1300 and 1350 pounds of slaked lime, or a little less than 

 one ton of finely pulverized raw limestone. Unusually large applications 

 have emphasized the wastefulness of such applications so far as the needs 

 of the soil and crops are concerned, through periods of five to six years. 

 Large applications may last much longer, but they are more wasteful of 

 lime, and result in capital being invested without returns. 



Small applications are advised for sandy soils. On such soils the 

 carbonate form is to be preferred. Wood-ashes, because of the form of 

 lime and the content of potash, is advised for sandy soils. 



Time of Applying. — Lime in any form may be applied at any time of 

 the year. In general farm practice it is advisable to apply lime when men 

 and teams are available for its hauling and distribution with the minimum 

 interference with other farm work. There are some minor precautions, 

 however, in this connection. It is never advisable to apply caustic lime 

 in large amounts just prior to the planting of the crop. At least ten days 



