The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-01-31
BROWN TELLS HOW
TO USE LIME
BY Gordon G. Brown.

the practicability Of using one of the
several forms Of lime under local
conditions. Questions raised usually
relate to the best time Of application,
kind, amount and what results-phy-
sical and chemical-may be expected
from its use. 1t is hoped TO herein
present very briefly the principles in:
volved so that the grower may judge
for himself the advisability of using
it under his own conditions.
The use of lime in agriculture is
an exceedingly old practice. Through
it's intelligent use wonderful results
have followed. The old adage that
the use of lime makes farmers rich
and sons poor" has a certain element
of truth, but only so where its con.
tinued use under wrong conditions Of
soil prevails.
First, consider the forms in which
calcium (lime) may be found. There
are two distinct classes; one is caus-
tic lime, as fresh-burned lime or
fresh -slaked lime; and the other Is
the natural form, such as limestone,
marble, lime shells, shall mari, etc.
Pure limestone contains three ele-
ments-calcium, carbon and oxygen,
and is correctly called calcium car.
Donate. When this is burned in
specially prepared kilns, "A pounds OF
carbon dioxide are driven off and we
have caustic lime. This explains
why Sc pounds Of the latter is con-
the former. When 56 pounds of caus.
sidered the fertilizer equivalent OF
tic lime or quick lime are slaked
with Is pounds of water, these two
compounds form "A pounds of cal.
verts to its original form--calcium
cium hydroxid. Thus 100 pounds OF
limestone calcium carbonate) BIZ
pounds of caustic lime and "A
pounds of water-slaked lime are con
sidered of equivalent value. These
facts should be considered in fgur
ing comparative costs. 1t is impor
tant to note also that if fresh-slaked
lime is long exposed to the air II
combines with carbon dioxid and re
carbonate, and has therefore al
equivalent value These form:
should be carefully distinguished
from that of land plaster or gypsum
(sulphate of lime), which is found IL
natural deposits. This is the form
of lime commonly used in Hood Riv
er Valley, mostly on clover or alfalf;
and in most cases with satisfactor.
results.
Soil Acidity Is Corrected.
The usual aim in applying one o
the different forms of lime is Il
correct acidity of the soil, facto
which makes the growth of man
plants, especially red clover or alta
ia, extremely difficult if not imposs
ible It's well-known tendency /
improve the mechanical structure O
the soil is also we'll known. In heav
soils lacking in humus and subjec
to excessive moisture, alternatin
with periods of drouth, the difficult
in maintaining proper tilth is ot
vious. Improvement is game
through lime in that the finer part
cles of clay are gathered together i
larger units, process known a
fiocculation. Naturally, the tendenc
will be towards better drainage, bel
ter aeration and warmth insurin
proper growth, 1t is also known tina
the process of nitrification, or tn
breaking down of humus and tn
fixation of atmospheric nitrogen b
legumes is accomplished In soiI
slightly alkaline in character, henc
the practicability of adding lime i
acid soils to remedy this. condition.
Not Direct Fertilizer.
1t should be borne in mind tina
lime is not direct fertilizer in tina
it does not in itself supply the elt
ments usually considered. as limitin
factors in plant growth. Lime |
said to take the place of potash Il
certain chemical compounds whic
exist in soils, thus liberating potas
and placing 1t at the disposal O
plants. In this particular, gypsum
Gland plaster) is believed to &C
more energetically than carbonate Q
lime, air-slaked lime or water.slake
lime. The fact that land plaste
supplies sulphur. an element YER
largely drawn upon by alfalfa an
clover, also explains the benefits de
rived from its use. One outstandin
feature should be remembered whe
using land paster, however. 1t doe
not correct acidity, as is the cas-
with the other forms of lime mer
toned. This is explained because
is combined with sulphmic acid an
is therefore present in a neutral cor
dition.
There are few places in the vale
where lime for correcting acidity
required. The vigor with which Il
gumes grow amply makes this cleal
This is especially so on bench o
sloping lands where drainage is goo
or on the lighter soils of the uppe
valley Acidity usually is accompar
led by an abundance of humus an
poor drainage. Except in isolate
portions we're lands are low-lyin
such conditions do not obtain here