The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-01-22
For the Lands Sake, Use Lime!

Our readers will be interested in
knowing that County Agricultural
Agent fowler has made arrangements
with the Soil Department of the Mary
land Experiment 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 Garrett county requires
| lime to produce a profitable crop. 1t is
well known fact that the poor and un-
productive land of this section is in
varlablY sour, and that many of the
good soils would De more productive il
lime was used more literally. The ex-
perience of the best farmers has shown
that when the soil begins to need lime
/ it is waste of time and fertilizer to
continue to cultivate it until this need
| has been supplied
/ With the above in mind County
| Agent fowler, has set aside ground hog
day, Monday, February the End, as soil
testing day. and urges that on that day
every farmer IN the county take a
sample of his soil and bring or send it
to his office at the court house. He
wants sample from every farmer, and
from every farm a sample from every
field that has not received an applica-
ton Of at least one ton of lime per acre
during the past two years All samples
received by him during the week of
February End will be tested for lime re-
| quirements free of charge if directions
given below are followed:
With spade or 81 ovel dig a square
hole to the debth of about six inches.
lay piece of clean paper in the bottom
of the hole and then shave thin slice
from one side of the hole, allowing the
soil to fall on the paper Lift the pa
per and the soil slice from the hole and
proceed to another place in the same
| field and repeat the operation.
If the field Is small and fairly uniform
two holes will be sufficient to give rep
resentative sample, but if the field is
large and uneven it will be better to Sc
cure samples from at least four differ
ent places. The sample thus secured from
different places in the same field should
be mixed together and from the mix
ture half-pint of soil should be taken
for the test This half-pint sample
should be wrapped in paper or put in a
clean bag and numbered or marked on
the outside of the package.
The samples from each field should
be wrapped and numbered separately,
then all packed together in box or
package for shipment by parcel post.
The package may be sent or taken to
the County Agricultural Agent or 1t
may be sent by mail or parcel post d.
rect to the Soil Department, Maryland
Experiment Station, College Park,
MARYLAND.
1t is desired that all samples be TAX
en- on Monday, February 2nd, regard
less of the weather. If the ground is
! frozen at this time the samples may be
taken by chopping out small pieces of
soil with an axe or Ratchet and after
thawing, mix as directed above.
| For the convenience of our readers
we are printing below a coupon which
should be used in sending the samples.
Before the package is wrapped for
shipment fill out this slip, tear it off
and attach to your sample, keeping a
copy for reference. This is important
since the result Of the test will be re-
ported to YOU by number and it will be
necessary for you to know the fields
corresponding the numbers.
Location of the farm. .............