The Harrison times., 1917-09-01
Fly D. F. Hun gerford, Assistant Agron-
ornist University of Arkansas.

development. SOll dClullS, NlllCH
means the absence of lime from a
soil, is especially injurious to alfalfa
and sweet clover. Neither Of these
crops appear to be able to resist, per-
manently, even a slight degree OF
acidity. Red clover is nearly as SEN
sitive to an acid condition as alfalfa.
White, also crimson and burr clover
are slightly more resistant, but Will
not do well 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 a limited extent on very acid soils,
it does much better on soils contain
ing lime,
How To Determine If Your Soil
Needs Lime.
The simplest method of determin-
ing if a soil needs lime is to test 1t
with litmus paper. Litmus paper
can be secured at most drug stores.
II 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 walls
by Squibble and by Merck & Co. has
been found to be satisfactory.
To make the test in the field time
Is selected after rain when the soil
is moist. A ball of moist soil Is
broken apart, a strip of the blue lit
mus paper inserted, and the soil
pressed together again. After five
or ten minutes the paper is taken out
and if it has turned pink the soil is
acid. Tests should be made in sew
eral parts of 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
person. It is so simple and mex
pensive however, that every farmer
should test his SOIL Then if there is
any doubt about it sample may be
sent to the Department of Agronomy
of the Agricultural Experiment sta,
ton at Fayetteville where it will be
tested free Of charge.
Form of Lime To Use.
If it is desired to grow clover or
alfalfa on a soil that has been found
to be acid, lime in some form must
be used to correct the acidity or the
attempt to get a stand is almost GER
tain to be a failure. Lime may be
applied as ground limestone, ground
shells, ground burned lime, Stacked
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 Stacked lime or wood
ashes is used, the crop may be in
iured and much humus destroyed in
the soil. However, if the burned or
Stacked lime is used in moderate
quantities (not to exceed 1900 pounds
per acre. no injury will result In
most cases it will be found more sat
isfactory to use the ground limestone,
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. II a very large proportion of
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
is ground the more quickly il becomes
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 fine.
" ground rock In no case, however,
should ground limestone be purchased
which contains particles larger than
one-fourth inch and large proper.
ton of all limestone used should con,
sist Of fine powder
Ground limestone may be spread
with special lime distributors, many
styles of which are on the market or
II may be spread from wagon with
shovels. In case the latter method Is
psed care should be taken to insure
an even distribution, otherwise tho
crop will not be uniform. It should
be spread on plowed ground and eth.
er disked or narrowed in. Lime should
never be plowed under as that buries
II too deeply to be OF benefit to the
terminating seed which needs il
most.
Ground limestone should always be
purchased In carload lots. In case
one farmer Ia unable to use so much.
several should combine in order b
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