The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-12-04
Reducing Sod Inntla.

Reducing sod Lands.
The plowing of sod land should be
done in the fall. AMI the land well re-
duced in the spring with a disc harrow.
In all sod land there exists many cut
worms, as the conditions are favorable
for them. but the fall plowing exposes
rdany of them 10 moisture and cold.
Lime has been found excellent in the
fall on sod land. and, with the as
sistance of the frost (the alternate
freezing and thawing of the land). the
lime largely aids In bringing the soil
into proper condition for corn in the
spring. All soils that have been in
grass should be followed with corn af-
ter the grass in order to insure good
cultivation, but when lime Is used the
clods and Jumps will break more easily.
Sod lands should be rich In humus
owing to the shading received by the
SOIL hence the use of nitrogen fertilizer
is not so necessary as potash and phos-
pilates Any soil will improve when
a good sod is formed, and good sod
makes abundant pasturage, but when
such lands are constantly grazed by
live stock they will lose fertility unless
manure or fertilizers are applied. One
of the best mineral substances to ap-
ply is lime, as the results from It's use
are lasting if the farm Is then proper
ly managed.
The action of lime Is sometimes slow
hence the results from its use may not
be apparent for a year or more. but
nearly all soils are benefited by tho
application of lime when the soils are
somewhat acid. This is especially the
case when green manurial crops are
grown and plowed under. The bacte-
ria of the soil can only perform the
duties desired when the soil is rather
alkaline, the condition for converting
decomposing vegetable and animal
matter into ammonia or nitrates by the
bacteria depending largely upon tho
amount of mineral matter present.
Clover is benefited by lime and potash
because the soil is rendered alkaline,
though both lime and potash are also
plant foods. There Is sometimes an
excess of carbonic acid in the SOIL gen
Grated by decomposition of vegetable
matter and lime neutralizes the acid.
The use of lime also changes the physi-
cal character OF soils, both clay and
sandy lands being benefited. Lime gives
good results on limestone soils the
lime existing therein is in the form of
carbonate of lime, and Is consequently
not capable of exerting any material
OH off h,,t .h1.,
is burnt it is changed from a carbonate
of lime to quieklime. Moisture then
causes the quicKlime to become hy-
drate of lime, and until 1t again be-
comes carbonate of lime (Which hap
pens later, after being applied on the
land) it is in an alkaline caustic condi-
tion and also caustic. The soil of
limestone regions is the same as the
limestone rock to large extent, and
the action of air slaked lime Quick
lime) on limestone soils is as potent
as ON many soils that contain no lime.
AS lime will cause exhaustion of the
soil if used alone. and the land cropped
every year, yet 1t proves highly bene-
fetal when manure. green material or
fertilizers are applied. Lime is not
strictly what is termed q fertilizer,
though 1t is a substance found in the
structure of every plant, but it serves
TO hasten the chemical action of other
organic and inorganic materials ex-
listing in soils and thereby prepares the
plant foods for better assimilation Of
plants, thus being a useful and indls-
pensable assistant on nearly all farms.
Philadelphia Record.