TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD A SOIL BE LIMED. 379 



CaO 



Ratio of 



MgO 



Average height 



Total weight 



Fresh weight of) 

 grains with husk, j "' 



Fresh weight of straw... 



No. 



I. 



No. II. 



No. in. 



No. IV. 



3 • 



1 



2 : 1 



1 : 1 



1 : 2 



"3 



cm. 



1 16 cm. 



120 cm. 



91 cm. 



260 



(T 



280 g. 



297 g- 



219 g. 



46 



CT 



Si g- 



5o g. 



"5 B- 



214 



g- 



229 g. 



247 g- 



203 g. 



As a general result we observe that No. I., and No. IV., 

 gave a smaller yield than No. II., and No. III. An increase of 



2 CaO 



lime beyond the proportion of t jyfgQ brought on a moderate 



decrease, while an increase of magnesia in No. IV., caused a 

 considerable decrease in the yield. 



The most favorable ratios 

 therefore : 



CaO 

 MgO 



- in my experiments were 



Buckwheat = 3:1 

 Cabbage =2:1 

 Oats = 1 : ] 



In turning back now to our original question : 

 " To what extent should a soil be limed ? ", we would have 

 to answer : After the amount of easily assimilable lime and 

 magnesia has been determined in the way above indicated by me, 

 the ratio should be corrected by adding lime to such an extent 

 that it becomes J : 1 to a given depth, when crops rich in foliage 

 ore to be groivn, while the ratio 1 : 1 has to be prepared when 

 oats and similar cereals are to be grown. 



