The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-18
BULLETIN BY ER. ABBOTT
NOW OUT FOR INFORMA-
TON OF FARMERS-ALL
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
LARGER CROPS ARE WANTED
Adage True-"Lime and Lime
Without Manure, Makes Both
Farm and Farmer
Poor"

LAFAYETTE, Ind, April.-The effect
for neutraizing harmful acids in
the soil is the basis of study con-
tanned in a bulletin issued recently
by the Soils and Crops department
of the Purdue Experiment Station.
The bulletin discusses the question
in thorough and Ineligible man.
ner and should be in the hands Of
every Indiana farmer, and carefully
observed.
Ginning the soil has two prin-
cipal effects on the soil' says Mr..
Abbott, author of the bulletin.
"Both of these operate principally
through the correction of the soil
acidity and the control of bacterial
activity. The promotion of the
growth of legumes results in build
ing up the nitrogen supply and gen.
eral fertility of the soil, and is in
all respects a good and desirable
thing. 1t is to be especially noted,
however, that this building up to the
fertility Of the soil is accomplished
principally through the legume
crops, and that if they are neglected
the principal end and aim of the
lining to improve the soil is defeat
ed The mere application of lime
cannot materially enrich the SOIL J."
1t is therefore the promotion of the
growth of legumes which, above all
others, justifies the use of lime
The stimulation of bacterial &C.
tivity may, on the other hand, be
destructive if carried too far
Like all other movements, it must
be conservative rather than radical
if the best results are to be OBJ
tanned.
The text of the bulletin bears
out the old adage that "Lime and
lime without manure, makes both
farm and farmer poor"
"The production of larger crops
by any means except direct fertiliza-
ton, no matter whether it be by
superior tillage, by the growth Of
more prolific varieties, or by the
use of lime, necessitates the use of
larger amounts of manure, clover
and fertilizer to maintain the bal
ance of income and outgo of plant
| food.
"Lime is not a fertilizer in the
commonly accepted sense, as it con-
tains neither nitrogen, phosphoric
acid nor potash. 1t naturally fol-
lows that dependence upon lime
alone must soon result in shortage
of one or more of these elements.
The lime should, except in a very
few cases, not be used except in
connection with other treatment.
Indiana Needs Soil Lining.
The author also says that the
dominant soil types in about one
third of the state are poorly sup
piled with lime and large por-
ton of this area is actually acid
at the present time. In the south
ern part of the state the silt loan
and doessial deposits of light color,
and the sandy soils of the northern
section, are predisposed to acidity.
1t should be noted that all soils, or
at least nearly all soils which need
lime, need other things. These
include, according to fertilizer tests
made by the department, phosphate
fertilization, organic matter and
nitrogen, drainage and aeratic.
In closing, it is suggested that
the one best way to tell whether OF
not the soil needs lime is to try it.
The place to try it is on the clover
crop A good plan is to apply
ground limestone at the rate of two
tons per acre and harrow in before
sowing wheat, and in the spring
SOW clover as usual. The department
is extremely anxious to get in
touch with farmers of the state on
this problem and viii gladly answer
all inquiries concerning the feast
bility of lining under prevailing
conditions described by the CORES
pondents. Those interested in
further details of this work should
apply for Circular No. 80, Purdue
Experiment Station, Lafayette, Ind
James r. Hanes. aoent of fbe