Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-03-21
The Way TO Apply Lime.

Lime should be put on the top or sur
face of the soil. The lime teaches down, ).
and thus its most beneficial effect is
when applied to the surface or within
say IL inch of the surface. Further
more, the sour or acid condition of the
soil is usually worst nearest the top. Ii
is in the top layer or surface that
bacteria live in greatest profusion, and
these are benefited in sour soil by the
application of lime.
The lime may be applied either by
broadcasting or by drill that does not
run more than 1-2 inch in to the soil, and
where the drills are not over 4 inches
apart. Some farmers use drill with
holes s, 10, or II inches apart, and they
drill the lime into q depth of /, 2 or 3
inches. Then. even with careful har-
rowing the lime cannot be evenly dis
tributed over the top soil, and the result
will not be as good as though the lime
were right on the surface.
One advantage of the drill for apply
ing lime on the surface In little rows not
over inches apart, is that the lime OF
fertilizer does not blow away. with the
board properly adjusted across tne DOT
tom of almost any broadcaster the
amount that will blow away Is greatly
reduced. OF course it should be applied
only on still day. Sometimes bit OF
sacking tackled along the board to drag
directly upon the soil viii prevent what
loss there might be by blowing.
BUYING THE LIME
Always buy lime in either paper or
cloth bags, or in barrels. Do not ouy II
in bulk. 1t Is so dusty that the stun
can hardly be handled in bulk without
great Inconvenience and considerable
expense for loss of time, If not health,
from the dust Quotations on lime In
bulk are quite temptation, but expert
ence proves the wisdom Of buying In
sacks or barrels.
Forms of lime which are excessively
fine. such for instance as air-slaked lime,
or even thoroughly water-slaked lime
which has been allowed to season and
dry out, do fly when put on broadcast
rather freely. The extent to which u
does this can be greatly reduced oy using
an apron (burlsp bags) extending from
the bottom of the hopper to the ground
With such IN apron and with reasonable
care in selecting and time relatively free
from wind, no particular difficulty mas
been found In putting on even the finest
and driest forms Of lime.
To put on the lime with drill OF
course involves considerable additional
expense, due to the fact that the drill
com monty takes narrower swath and
of course has heavier draft for . given
width. If the form Of lime used 10 hne
ground limestone the danger of blowing
10 an extent to prove at all serious 10
much less than with other forms Of lime
An Illinois farmer who has had much
sxperience writes: "Pulverized lime
stone is considerably heavier and In
| larger particles than burned lime dust,
40 il does not blow away 90 readily
The most common method here 10 to
shovel IL from the wagon or to put it on
. manure spreader under layer OF
straw. A common practice also Ii to
shovel out pile of limestone st reguiar
Intervals over field and then spread
these piles with shovel. Some drills
will clog mp on pulverized limestone, OF
viii not handle IL vet or put enouge OF
it on to an acres-New England Home-
stead.