Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-23
GRASS CROPS ON LIGHT SOILS.
The Secret of Good Catch of Grass Seed
Effect of Air Slaked Lime.

The Secret of Good Catch of Grass Seed.
Effect of Air Slaked Lime.
From numerous complaints about
poor grass crops on light soils, even
when we'll MANFRED and with fair
amount of moisture, it seems that the
trouble in many cases is due to failure
in getting good catch of grass seed.
Now, on the Rhode Island experiment
station farm the management have
been contending with just this same
difficulty for several years Tho land is
sandy loan, underlaid by stratum Of
yellow loan two or three feet in thick
ness, which in turn is underlaid by por-
GUS gravel of unknown depth, the per-
manent water table being about Is feet
below the surface. This land was in a
thoroughly exhausted condition when
purchased. Liberal amounts of chem
icals ana fertilizers, ordinarily purchas-
ed as sources Of plant food. have been
used experimentally on portions of this
plain, but without success SO far as the
securing of stand Of grass or clover
was concerned.
Not until an application of air slaked
lime was made has success been attain
ed, and repeated experiment has shown
that the presence or absence Of air slak
ed lime accounts for the success or fail
ure on this particular farm Director
Flagg, i'll accounting for this in TIE
New England Homestead, SAYS: There
appears to be, aud repeated experiment
has pretty well demonstrated the fact,
an acid condition of the soil sufficient TO
prevent the growth of our ordinary
grasses and clover in their infancy. Seed
terminates well, but after developing
two or three leaves the plant turns
yellow and soon dies. Where the fields
have been treated to an application of
from one to three tons per acre of com
mon AIR slaked lime thoroughly worked
into freshly plowed fields before seed
ing, clover and herds grass present an
entirely different appearance ard yield
heavy crops
By the use Of a liberal quantity Of |
unleached wood ashes the same purpose
may be accomplished, as wood ashes con-
t'siu d larry per Neub Oh carbonate OF |
lime. but If, as i'll many instances, the
beneficial effect of wood ashes is due to |
the carbonate of lime rather than 10 the |
potash i'll promoting the growth of clio |
yer, one can accomplish the same results
more economically by purchasing and
applying air slaked lime.
The effect of the air slaked lime may
be twofold: 1. As a chemical agent in
correcting any excessive acid condition
of the soil. g A mechanical effect bv |
fiocculating the finer particles of the
soil, making it more retentive Of mois-
ture. Professor Flagg suggests that
farmers try dressing of air slaked lime
i'll connection with good grass fertilizer
upon Il portion of such fields when seed
ing again to grass, whether clover OF
herd S grass. Of course lime of itself is
insufficient to produce good crops; a suf-
ficient amount of potash, phosphoric acid
and nitrogen should be added to produce
an average crop of hay. Less nitrogen
may be used if the field is sown entirely
to clover than if sown to red top and
herd S grass without clover, but if hay for
feeding cattle is wanted it is advised tc
grow one Or two crops Of clover, on ac-
count OF its value as a renovating agent
Ill sandy and gravelly soils.