1152 



Notes on Manures for March. 



[Mar. 



NOTES ON MANURES FOR MARCH. 



E. J. Russell, D.Sc, F.E.S., 



Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts. 



Lime. — Correspondence in regard to lime is still abundant, 

 and again it must be urged that lime or limestone must be applied 

 to sour arable land before satisfactory improvement can be 

 effected. In many districts drainage is equally necessary, and 

 money is wasted if expended upon lime without drainage. In 

 other districts, as on the flinty clays of the Home Counties, lime 

 or chalk is quite sufficient . The effect is being shown in a 

 marked way at the present time on the Rothamsted fields, the 

 soil of which is a sticky, heavy loam. Plots and fields that have 

 received chalk are in a favourable workable condition; those 

 that have not are sticky. Usually the difference in crop is less 

 than might be expected, excepting in the . case of clover which 

 has to remain throughout the winter in whatever conditions exist, 

 and suffers accordingly. There is a marked difference in ease 

 of working in spring. It is impossible to obtain reliable figures 

 as to cost from plots, but there can be little doubt that a good 

 dressing of chalk saves spring cultivations for a number of years. 



There is usually reliable local information on these matters ; 

 the point of the present note is to urge that no substitute is known 

 for liming or chalking of arable land. On pasture land basic 

 slag often proves more satisfactory, and to that extent may be 

 considered as a substitute. 



Between lime, limestone and chalk the choice is determined 

 partly by soil and partly by convenience : — 



(J) On heavv soils all are equally effective, but lime is the 

 most concentrated, and therefore often the most economical. In 

 the Home Counties, however, chalk is often found the most 

 economical. 



(2) On light soils ground chalk or limestone is often safer than 

 lime, as less loss of valuable organic matter results therefrom. 



(3) On peat soils lime is more economical than limestone or 

 chalk owing to transport costs. 



Importance of Slag and of Lime in ensuring an Early Start 

 of Young Seeds. — An interesting experiment at Rothamsted, 

 commenced for another purpose, has incidentally afforded an 

 admirable illustration of the value of basic slag and lime in stimu- 

 lating growth of clover where sown in a corn crop (in this 

 instance barley), and thereby ensuring a satisfactory plant. In 

 the control experiments the young clover made the usual start, 

 but on the plots receiving slag and lime the plant was much 



