The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-06-14
FARM AND GARDEN,
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AORICULTURISTS.
Some Up to Date Hints About Cultiva-
tion OF the Soil and Yields Thereof
culture.
Lime and Potato Scab.

Lime ana rotate ScaD
The Rhode Island Experiment Sta
ton has been conducting some extern
sive experiments with lime and ashes
on land used for potato growing. The
results are made known in Bulletin 80.
The summary is as follows:
Experiments with air-slacked lime
covering a period Of two years show
Yonclusively that it tends to increase
the scab Of potatoes.
Since wood ashes contain about one
half as much lime in practically the
same form, there remains almost no
question but that they will also in
crease the scab. One ton OF air
Stacked lime contains in general a lit
tie less lime than two tons OF wood
ashes.
1t seems probable that the natural
acidity or sourness OF the soil tends
to check the spread of the disease, and
the tendency Of barn-yard manure to
increase it may reasonably be attri-
buted to its alkaline action, by which
the sourness is overcome.
If the farm stock is fed on scabbed
beets or potatoes in an uncooked con-
dition, then barn-yard manure may
= still further increase the disease by
carrying to the soil germs which have
passed through the digestive organs OF
the animal undestroyed. If a soil is
very acid small quantities Of barn-yard
manure, wood ashes and air-slacked
lime will probably have far less ten
dency to increase the scab than when
large quantities are used. The
amounts which it would be safe to ap-
ply are doubtless dependent upon the
sourness of the soil. The safest course,
until absolutely effective means OF
disinfecting the seed tubers are found,
would be to avoid these substances al
together, provided potatoes are to be
grown successfully or in frequent ro-
tation upon the same land. Upon such
soil, lime not only increases the total
yield but also the percentage of tubers
of large size, SO that If only one crop
were to be grown the use Of lime would
prove decidedly beneficial, for the eff
fects from the scab are not serious
the first year. When grown under
these conditions, the corrosive subli-
mate treatment proposed by Bolley has
lessened decidedly the amount Of scab.
1t is possible by the use Of this treat
ment that potatoes may be grown upon
lined soil SUCCESSFULLY or in frequent
rotations without the arising of seri-
GUS injury from the scab, yet our OBJ
servations, up to the present time,
make it appear very doubtful If this
can be done. Considering the increase
of the potato crop from the use of the
lime on soils of character like our
own land sour soils have been found
to occur extensively, the financial
bearing of the question is highly i'm
portant one, and we hope to continue
our experiments in this direction, for
If some way can be found by which
lining can be resorted to and the scab
avoided, it will be great benefit to
our potato growing industry.
BY knowing what soil conditions
tend to increase the scab, we are placed
in position to avoid 1t to a large de-
gree, and If nothing further than that
is ascertained something Of practical
value will have been established. From
experiments upon the growth of about
fifty agricultural plants, not more than
one among those which are grown in
Rhode Island is to any extent injured
by the use Of lime, while with most
of them lime Is either decidedly bene-
fetal or absolutely essential to their
profitable cultivation on our very sour
bOlIs Anu LulS ID VI cFcu tuOuSu ILL
abundance Of all the other so-called
elements is applied. Sorrel has not
grown as well on the lined soil as
where it was unlimed, and where lime
was used in connection with sulphate
of ammonia 1t grows far less luxur-
iantly than when used in connection
with nitrate Of soda. 1t may safely be
stated that lime favors the growth of
clover and other desirable plants to
such an extent that they are thereby
better enabled to overcome the sorrel
and crowd 1t out.
This statement of the results thus
far obtained shows that the scab on the
potato is practically the only draw
back to the use of air-slacked lime
and wood ashes which has till now
shown itself.
Purple Beard Grass.
Il