The Nevada County picayune., 1917-08-30
RAISE LEGUME HAY;
 ARMY NEEDS GRAIN
Glover and Alfalfa Shsvid 1s Raised For Steck-0rain is Needed
 For Human Food.
By D. F. Hungerford Assistant AgroA
 omist University of Arkansas.

Live stock growers in Arkansas are becoming more interested in the clo- vers and alfalfa because the demsni for grain as human food has so in- creased the price that live stock men must rsly upon lesume hay largely to take the place of grain in feeding heir animals.
 Those who attempt to raise these legumes should remember that all falfa and most of the common clov- ers require a soil that is well sup piled with lime to insure their best development. Soil acidity. which means the absence of lime from . sotl, is especially injurious to alfaifA ed sweet clover Neither of these crops appear to be able to resist, per. manently, even slight degree or acidity. Red clover is nearly as sen si4ive to an acid condition as alfalfa. White, also crimson and burr clover. are slightly more resistant, but will not do we'll on soils that have even a medium acidity. Japan clover or lespedeza appears to be the most re- sistant of all the clovers to acid con- dition; but even though it will grow to limited extent on very acid soils, 1t does much better on soils contain ing lime.
 How To Determine If Your Soil
 Needs Lime.
 The simplest method of determin- with litmus paper. Litmus paper can be secured at most drug stores. IL comes In two colors-red and blue. The blue is used for the test. Much of the litmus paper carried by drug gists is of an inferior quality and is not sufficiently sensitive for the test. That which is put up in small vials by Squibble and by Merck & Go. has been found to be satisfactory.
 To make the test in the field a time is selected after a rain when the soil Is moist A ball of moist soil Ia broken apart, strip of the blue lit- mus paper inserted. and the soil pressed together again. After Ave or ten minutes the paper is taken out and if 1t has turned pink the soil Is acid. Tests should be made in sev- sral parts of a field that is being examined to eliminate errors. The litmus paper test is not absolutely re- liable even in the hands of trained workman and is sometimes mislead- ing when used by the inexperienced pensive, however, that every farmer should test his soil. Then if there ia any doubt about it sample may De sent to the Department of Agronomy of the Agricultural Experiment Sta ton at Fayetteville where 1t will be tested free of charge.
 Form Of Lime To Use.
 If it is desired 10 grow clover or alfalfa on soil that has been found 10 be acid, lime in some form must be used to correct the acidity or the attempt to get a stand is almost cer tain to be failure. Lime may be dUDIleu as kIOuiu Sicuhh shells, ground burned lime slacked lime or wood ashes. The safest and usually the cheapest form of lime to use is ground limestone or ground shells. An unlimited amount of such material could be used without in jury; whereas if an excessive amount of burned or slacked lime or wood ashes is used. the crop may be in- jured and much humus destroyed is the soil. However, if the burned pr slacked lime is used in moderate quantities (not to exceed 1.500 pounds per acre) no injury will result. In most cases it will be found more sat isfactory to use the ground limest because it is cheaper. less unpleas- ant to handle, and is safer.
 Ground limestone should be applied at the rate of about two tons, per acre If very large proportion ot the material consists of coarse parti- cles from one-eighth to one-fourth inch in diameter a larger quantity should be used. The finer the rock
  available, but the finer grinding adds materially to the cost of production; hence in many cases. it is cheaper 10 use three or four tons of the coarse material rather than two tons of flne ly ground rock In no case. however, should ground limestone be purchased which contains particles larger than one-fourth inch and a large propor- ton of all limestone used should con. sist If fine powder.
 Ground limestone may be spread with special lime distributors. many styles of which are on the market, or il may be spread from wagon with shoyels In case the latter method k used care should be taken to insure an even distribution. otherwise tho crop will not be uniform l. should be spread on plowed ground and eith CT disked or harrow wed in. Lime should never be plowed under as that buries