Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-08-05
Use of Lime Increasing.

SoihNdu county, N. d., have been OK
perimenting more or less with lime
From two to six carloads Of ground lime
stone have been purchased through the
farm bureau and distributed each yeal
ana tests have been made using one and
two tons per acre. Both successes and
failures have been reported, but as a
whole the use of lime has paid and its
use is increasing. Farmers are coming
to understand more the reasons why
lime should be used, if at all, and are
endeavoring to determine If their soil
needs it.
One prevalent idea has been that the
only soil to need lime would be a cold,
wet, heavy one, and such q soil is usu.
ally selected by them for a trial. But
farmers along the Connecticut River with
the light, sandy or silt porous soils are
finding that lime brings results and are
now using more than other sections of
the county. The reason ia that the lime
content teaches out of the light soils,
thus leaving the crop deficient on ths
particular plant food which it must have.
Some farmers who have been growing
clover fairly we'll have thought lime
would not be profitable for them, but q
trial has proved differently. Que farmer
bought ton to help make out car, aud
applied It to field across the center.
At haying time a careful measurement
was made, when IL was found that he
bad gained 2,4S0 pounds of cured hay
per acre. The following year heavy
growth was also obtained where the lime
was used. This has convinced him that
lime will pay well for the investment
and he will apply more of Ii. Other
farmers have made similar trials and
seem to be well satisfied with results,
for they are purchasing in increased
quantities. Last spring at least 175 tons
were used in the county, where formerly
only few tons were purchased.
The ground limestone form seems TO
be most popular, for it is not so disa-
greeable to handle or apply as the burned
lime. The burned lime requires hand
ling only about half as much material as
in the ground limestone form to get the
same calcium value. 1t must be slaked
before applying, which is some trouble
and may not be we'll done, and when
spreading it flies badly, is caustic to the
skin and, therefore, disagreeable to use.
Scientists also tell US there is danger of
burning out some OF the valuable humus
of the soil when the burned form is used,
therefore nearly all farmers use the
ground rock form.
This material comes in paper or burlap
bags or loose, but Is purchased mostly in
paper. The farmers are applying it at
the rate of one ton per acre, either with
q fertilizer or lime spreader or from the
back of cart. If they have a manure
spreader they spread il few inches of
manure, then several inches of lime and
spread in this way. A large number
who are using lime for the first time lay
out three long narrow plots, one having
an application at the rate of ton per
acre, the second, two tons per acre, and
the third or the balance of the field with
out any treatment. They can then judge
its value on succeeding crops. The lime
is usually applied to the furrow and we'll
narrowed into the soil. 1t usually shows
results quicker In the new seeding than
on other crops, and where farmer has
had failure of clover seeding, lime often
brings success. Oats often show results
from lime as well as the other grain.
Lime should not be used on ground
about to be planted to potatoes, for they
do better in a soil slightly acid and
sweet soil tends TO develop scab. If lime
is applied tu the previous crop, however,
there will be no harm to the potato crop.
Lime usually is not profitable as a top
dressing on grass land, or as substitute
in the drill or hill for fertilizer.
To determine the value of different
forms of lime and the profitableness of
any, the lime association of America is
cooperating on some special tests in
Sullivan County. They are furnishing
three different farmers with three lots of
lime, one being l. OPS pounds burnt lime.
the second, 1850 pounds agricultural
lime, and the third, 1000 pounds of
ground limestone. These are to be ap-
piled to plots one-half acre in size, side
by side and on soil of equal fertility. A
fourth plot is left without treatment as
check. The regular cropping is then to
be pursued by the farmer and results
will be watched. To get three different
types of soil, they are to be located on
the A. Il. Ainsworth, the Ed Durham
and George Durham farms. This gives
a stony loan, light, sandy soil and
heavy, damp, cold soil. These tests will
be watched with interest by many farm
ers throughout New England. H. N.
Wells in New England Homestead.