36 



such a way as to render more of these materials 

 available for plant growth. At the same time cer- 

 tain diseases destructive to some of the garden 

 plants are very largely controlled by liberal applica- 

 tions of lime, notably the club root of cabbage. The 

 rate of application must necessarily vary somewhat, 

 depending upon the amount of acidity present or 

 the nature of the trouble to be corrected. Usually 

 one ton of freshly burned limestone or two tons of 

 pulverized lime rock is considered sufficient for or- 

 dinary purposes. Such applications should be made 

 every three to five years. The lime should be ap- 

 plied in the spring of the year and as a surface 

 application after the soil has been plowed. It should 

 never be applied with manure, as the chemical 

 action resulting liberates the nitrogen in the form 

 of gas, which is entirely lost from the soil. This 

 difficulty may be largely obviated by plowing the 

 manure under and applying the lime to the surface 

 after the soil has been partially worked down. The 

 form of lime to be preferred depends very largely 

 upon the price per ton and freight rates. Usually 

 where one is located at a considerable distance from 

 the supply, it will be more economical to use the 

 burned limestone. Where quarries are close at hand 

 and the freight rate correspondingly low, it will be 

 more economical to use the ground lime rock. The 

 latter form is not so quick in its action, but lasts 

 much longer. 



