The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-11-19
Lining the Soil
$, NJ, 5ordaG in Missouri Ruralist.

$, NJ, JordaG in Missouri Ruralist.
Every seed or grain is made up o.
ten essential elements. Many soil;
are partially lacking in some of them,
and such soil canuot be sufficiently
productive. These elements may be-
come deficient by crop removal, and
by erosion or washing.
For each pound Of potash removed
by washing about 80 pounds Of lime
is removed, and for each pound oi
phosphorus so removed there is about
$50 pounds Of lime removed. Lime
dissolving very rapidly is the chief
cause Of its washing away so quickly.
A ton Of clover hay takes from the
soil about 80 pounds Of lime, and a
ton OF alfalfa hay requires about IS
pounds Of lime. Since hill lands have
as a rule been growing most Of our
clover. and since erosion is, Of course,
more on hill lands than other lands,
this explains the cause OF our soil be-
ing sour on the hills, and the poorest,
most badly washed places commonly
being the most acid.
The dissolved lime flows with the
water to the level lands, and since they
dry mainly by evaporation the lime
salts remain, hence bottom lands are
usually only slightly acid, If not actually
alkaline in reaction. This explains
chiefly why clover and alfalfa commonly
do well on bottom land.
Many have been aurprised to find
Limestone" soil sour. This is easily
accounted for, when we remember how
easily the lime dissolyes, and it is thus
washed away. Since any crop requires
lime, every crop removed removes
lime. Cropping for years and erosion
has left the hills sour, and the only
method Of correcting acidiiy is by
lining.
Gardens, lawns and pastures, as we'll
as cultivrted fields, can be wonderfully
helped in many cases by an applica-
ton Of crushed limestone. 1t neutral
ICES acid soils, or sweetens" them,
allowing the valuable plants to crowd
out those that like an acid soil.
Lime has a tendency 10 prevent
rust and smut. Many insects also
prefer to work in an acid soil. Lime
also has tendency 10 make the soil
light" or friable.
Blue litmus paper pressed tightly in
ball Of damp soil and allowed to re.
main three or four minutes is a good
way TO determine soil acidity. II the
soil is acid the paper will turn from
blue 10 pink. The degree OF acidity
may be judged by the rapidity with
which the color changes, and by the
degree Of change.
Acid soil is also indicated by certain
weeds that may be found growing in
it, such as sorel, dock, tickle grass,
and by its being ''soggy" and working
heavy"
Commonly from one TO four tons an
acre, depending somewhat on the fine
ness OF the ground rock, is a sufficient
amount Of lime to apply. Ground too
fine, it soon dissolves and is washed |
away, Coarser grinding and heavier
is better than a light ap-
plcation Of more finely ground stone. |
The finer it is ground the more expen-
sive it becomes. The application as
indicated should do for from one to
four years.
Limestone should be put on grass
lands in the fall, and on cultivated |
lands after plowing. disking it we'll
into the soil. A lime distributor is
perhaps best TO distribute the lime, |
but manure spreader is often used, |
putting something on the bottom OF
the spreader TO prevent the limestone
from sitting through toe much. Some
times an endgate seeder is used and it
is sometimes scattered with a shovel. |
Fifty pounds square rod in your ga:-
den means four tons an acre. Hail
that much should go on the lawn. |
Two tons an acre on clover or alfalfa
will commonly be better investment
than half that amount.
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State Map of Missouri
In connection with the data OBJ.
tained for the limited States nnriinn nf