EXERCISE A-30. 



TO SHOW THE EFFECT OF LIME 

 UPON THE SOIL. 



Equipment: Two tall bottles or cylinders; a sample 

 of clay soil; a lump of lime. 



Method: (1) Make up a small quantity of limewater 

 by dissolving a lump of lime in a glass of water. Add 

 lime until no more will dissolve. 



Fill each bottle or cylinder with clear water and add 

 to each a tablespoonful of very fine, dry, clay soil. Into 

 one cylinder pour two tablespoonfuls of limewater. Now 

 shake each cylinder for two minutes and then allow the 

 contents to settle for a short time. In which sample are 

 the particles drawn together in groups or crumbs? 



Note the time required for the water to become clear 

 in each sample and record in the following table: 



(2) Make a mud ball of heavy clay about the size 

 of a baseball. Make a second ball, mixing into the clay 

 two tablespoonfuls of hme, and, as soon as both are dry, 

 crush them. Which is the more easily broken? If a hard, 

 cloddy soil is treated with lime what will be the effect 

 upon its working qualities? 



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