26 Garden steps 



Not only does lime create more plant food for the 

 growing roots to draw upon, but it also improves 

 the physical nature of the soil. On heavy and 

 clayey soil, it breaks up the lumps, separates the 

 fine particles which cling together, and makes this 

 soil open and porous. The clayey soil thus treated 

 is able to hold moisture a much greater length of 

 time, and is more even in temperature from day to 

 day. 



On light, sandy soil, lime fills up the chinks be- 

 tween the particles, which tend to be large. Thus 

 the soil is made more retentive of water, which 

 otherwise would soon run down into the subsoil 

 beyond reach of the plants. In sandy soil, not Hmed, 

 plants whose roots do not feed deeply are likely to 

 be withered by the hot summer sun and die for lack 

 of moisture. 



How to Secure Lime. — Agricultural lime is se- 

 cured from large seed houses or from dealers in 

 farm supplies. It is not at all expensive, and every 

 gardener should have it on hand. For some crops, 

 like beets, a light dressing every year is recom- 

 mended. 



Litmus Test. — All sour or acid soil should be 

 treated with lime at once. If you find a piece of 

 ground where sorrel grows freely and where seeds 

 sprout poorly, try the litmus test. Litmus paper 

 may be procured from the druggist. It is blue. 

 Place a handful of the soil you wish to test in a glass 



