The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-01-23

Send sample TO the County Agent
and Find Out.

L &WO Qln0 OMUe
Our readers will be interested IN
knowing that our County Agricul-
tural Agent has made Arrangements
with the Soil Department Of the Md
Experimental Station whereby every
farmer in the County may have his
soil tested free of charge. This test
will not only indicate whether or not
lime is needed, but will also tell him
the amount. Of lime that should be
used.
From one-half to two-thirds of
the farm land in our County requires
lime to produce a profitable crop. 1t
| is well known fact that the poor
and unproductive land Of this section
| is invariably sour and that many OF
our good soils would be more pro-
ductive If lime was used more liber-
ally. The experience of our best
| farmers has shown when the soil
begins to need lime it is waste OF
time, and fertilizers, to continue to
Icultivate it until this need has been
supplied.
With the above in mind our Coun-
| ty Agent, J. H. Knode, has set aside
Ground Hog day, Monday, Feb. End,
as soil testing day and urges that on
that day every farmer in the County
take sample of their soil and bring
or send 1t to his Office next to the
Postoffice in Elkton. He wants q
farmer from every farm and from
every farm a sample from every
field that has not received an appli-
cation of at least one ton of lime per
acre during the last two years. All
samples received by him during the
week of Feb. End, will be tested for
lime requirements free Of charge II
| the directions given below are fol-
lowed:
Directions For Taking Soil Samples,
With spade or shovel dig a
square hole to the depth of about six
inches, lay a piece of clean paper in
the bottom of the hole and then
shave a thin slice from one side OF
the hole, allowing the soil to fan
ON the paper. Lift the paper and
the soil slice from the hole and pro-
coed to another place in the same
field and repeat the operation.
If the field is small and fairly uni
form two holes will be sufficient te
give representative sample, but if the
field is large and uneven it will be
better to secure a sample from al
least four different places. Thu
sample thus secured from different
places in the same field should theT
be mixed together and from the mix
ture a half pint of soil should bt
taken for the test. This half PIN
sample should be wrapped in papel
or put in clean bag and numbered
or marked on the outside of package
i The samples from each field should
be wrapped and numbered separately
then all packed together in a box Of
package for shipment by parcel post
The package may be sent or taken t.
the County Agricultural Agent or i
may be sent direct by mail or parce
post to the Soil Department, Mary
land Experiment Station, Colleg'
Park, Md.
| It is desired that all samples b
taken on Monday, Feb. End, regard
; less of the weather. If the grount
is frozen at this time the samples
! may be taken by chopping out small
: pieces of soil with an axe or hatche
and after thawing, mix as directed
above.
II For the convenience of our read
ers we are printing below a coupon
which should be used in sending
samples. Before the package il
wrapped for shipment fill out thi
} slip, tear it off and attach to youl
sample, keeping copy for reference
This is important since the result o.
; the test will be reported to you b,
number, and it will be necessary fol
i you to know the fields corresponding
with numbers.