Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-10-07
Lime Overcomes Acid.

Naturally if there is an excess of
acid the way to correct this condf-
ton is to add some basic substance,
such as lime which is the cheapest COR
receive we have for soil acidity.
Some crops, like the clovers and al
falfa, do not grow we'll on acid soils.
AS we need these crops in our SyS
TEN of diversified farming we should
see to it that acid soils are corrected.
1t is an easy matter to know wheth-
err or not soils are acid. And, of
course, if a soil is acid it is important
to know whether it is but slightly or
very acid If it is not very acid, it
will need but little lime, but if it is de-
cidedly acid it will require much more
lime to get it back into good balance.
Until recently we have been testing
soils for acidity by means of the blue
litmus paper test; this, for number
Of reasons, was not as satisfactory as
is desirable. Recently new test has
been devised at the Wisconsin expert
,nent station by the use of which We
can tell not only if a soil is acid, but
at the same time how acid it really
is. This test is fully described in q
bulletin which will be mailed to Wis.,
consin farmers who request it,
Lime, for correcting soil acidity, can
be secured in several forms. Burnt
lime, air-slaked lime, and pulveriZed
lime rock are the most common forms
used
Burnt lime is the common lime used
in making mortar It is usually put
in piles in the field and allowed TO
slake before spreading. Fifty pounds
Of burnt lime are equal to nearly 100
pounds Of air.slaked lime or puIver-
lied rock It is the most concentrated
form of lime, and, where transpOrta-
ton is an important factor, it may be
the most economical form to use. Air.
slaked lime may often be obtained
cheaply as a waste product, and then
may well be used But pulveriZed
limestone is used much more than any
other form in Wisconsin, and is gen
orally the most convenient form to
USE
How Soon Does Lime Give Results?
If the lime is well mixed with the
soil it usually gives results the first
year. The maximum benefit usually
does not appear until the second or
third year, or even later. An acid
condition in an upland soil is usually
the result Of many years of teaching
and an acid soil may be said to be
'chrOnically sick" Lime is the spe-
cffic which always effects q sure cure,
bat it takes several years. To apply
lime to the soil is to return something
which has been taken away, for the
limestone deposits come from the
eaching of the SOIL These limestone
deposits are like the farmers manure
heap-bOth come from the soil. and
both must be returned if the soil fer
tility Is to be maintained.
Here is the method of procedure
O Have the county agent, expert
ment station, or some one else famil-
lar with the method, test for acidity
the soil that is to be put into alfalfa,
clover, soy beans, canning peas, sugar
beets, or other medium or high lime
requirement crop the coming year or
year later, and determine how much
lime, if any, is needed. Always have
the soil tested before buying lime, for
lining may not be needed.
(2) If the soil is acid find out from
the county agent, experiment station,
or some other source where lime may
be secured most advantageOusly and
apply it, preferably in the fall, to the
plowed ground. Otherwise apply it
early in the spring. Mix the lime thor
Qnghly with the plowed soil. Only IN
case of emergency apply lime as n top
dressing after clover and alfalfa fields
have been started.
~ Leave an unlimed strip and
watch results continuously from year
TO year.
az Use phosphate and potash fer
tiliZers with lime, where needed.
l5) When time permits have all the |
fields tested, and if they are acid APP
ply lime regularly to one or more |
fields each year.
l6) Tn the course of five to ION |
years retest the lined fields IL M y
more lime ia pnefa@l7