The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-17
Important Work in Soil Analysis
Shows That Acidity Is Excess
sive Generally, and Lime
stone Dust is Required.
IL.
GETTING SPECIAL REPORT
Rny Farmer Can Ascertain Exactly
What Soil of Each of His
Fields Needs to Grow
Better Crops.

lust what the soil of each field in
Lee county needs to make 1t grow
better crops can be easily ascer-
tanned by the owner, thanks to the
work done by the Ames Laboratories
and J. S. Glare, demonstration agent
for this county, with headquarters at
Donnellson.
On account of the prevalence or
influenza. it was thought best to
postpone the soil meetings sched-
uled for December 2 to Z the
noultry meetings scheduled o De-
cemher IL to IA. The only one OF
the soil meetings held was the one
at Sawyer hall on the evening OF
December z.
About twenty-five interested farm
ers were present. Mr.. Bancroft mas
some good material to present ana
it is planned to- have hin come back
to Lee county when the IiuenI
situation is sufficiently improved:
Mr.. Bancroft emphasizes the need OF
lime ON all important soil types in
the county. The limestone is espe-
eiaIlv deficient in fields that have
been cultivated for a long period,
particularly fields that hay had all
crons removed. Mr.. Bancroft's state
ment on soil acidity is fully IN &C
cordance with the results secured by
numerous tests for acidity made by
DEMONSTRATION Agent Clare. He mas
made about $50 acidity tests ana mas
found acid in more than ninety-flve
ner cent of the tests. The mOu
Of limestone required to correct the
acidity varies from one to i've tons
per acre. The presence OF suftlclent
time is more essential to b esume
than to other crops, but often the
addition of lime increases the yleios
OF such crops as corn, oats ana
wheat.
How to Find Out.
"Tbose desiring an acidity test
should call me to their farms OF
bring samples to the farm bureau OF
flee" saws Mr.. Clare. in taking
soil samples. the trash should be re
moved and the soil secured with
shade. Do not dig deeper than you
ordinarily plow. Take part OF tne
soil from the surface and part from
tie lower part of the OIL dug UP
with the spade. Soil ouid De taken
from several parts of the fielo' aro
thoroughly mixed. A pint OF the
mixture is sufficient.
Those desiring less than a carload
OF limestone may AoNAJ "
station they would prefer to naVs
limestone u~nloaded. Probably some
one else will be interested in having
part of a car ~unloaded at the same
point.
What Most of Them Need
practically all our soil types are
deficient in organic matter and NJ
trogen. Any Of the fegumes are
beneficial, especially when pasturef
down or fed and the manur re
turned to the land, or when ploWee
under while green. Contrary to {
prevalent opinion, no legume leaves
the soil enriched in nitrogen WheI
me tops are harvested and no par
of them returned TO the SOIL In tni'
case the nitrogen taken from he al
by the bacteria that work on TIT
roots is about equivalent TO the nitro
gen that is removed in the top par
of the plant. Soils that nave ra1se'
p leglminous crop usually are II
better physical condition than othe
soils, and this partly explains 70
creased yields following legumes
even when the crops are renoVed
The growing and ~pasturing or feeo
ing of legumes is certainly a goo'
practice and M to be Encouraged