The Soil of the Garden 69 
Fic. 43. Lime should be applied when no wind is blowing. Even a mild 
breeze will carry much of the lime away and prevent an even distribution over 
the surface. 
sandy soils. Lime should not be plowed or spaded under, 
either in autumn or in spring, but should be scattered 
over the surface and thoroughly raked in shortly be- 
fore planting. One application every three years should 
be sufficient. 
Other benefits of lime. Small amounts of the prin- 
cipal elements in lime (calcium and magnesium) are used 
by plants in building up their bodies, and these elements 
combine with decayed organic material to form nitrates, 
which the plants take in and use as the source of their 
nitrogen. Lime in soils also leads to chemical changes 
which make it easier for plants to secure the potassium 
and phosphorus in rock particles. Lime improves the 
physical condition of the heavy clay soils by making 
