South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-24
CASS COUNTY SOILS
NEED LIME OR MARL
Many Farms Tested Show
Acidity, Which Farmers Are
Planning to Correct.

Tests made during the past four
months show that practically AL
soils in Cass county need lime. There
have been over one hundred and
fifty tests made on many farms in
all parts Of the county and on nearly
all the different types OF soil. IL is
planned TO get several tests of all
the various soil types recognized by
the L. S. department Of agriculture
80 that farmers IN the county can
get this information first hand.
The amount of lime required as
shown by the tests varies consider
ably. The black prairie soils Of
Penn. Pokagon and Edwardsburg.
show a requirement Of from one TO
five tons. Many of these soils have
been farmed for four or five genera
tons are sour and also run down.
Applications of lime in large amounts
have given excellent stands OF al
falfa and when plowed after several
years, have in turn produced much
better crops of wheat, corn and po-
tatoes than had been produced in
many years past on these soils.
The level sandy loan soils known
as "Oak Openings" show a require
ment of from two TO three tons of
lime. These soils while not farm
ed quite as long as the black prairie
soils, have produced good crops. but
are now showing the effect of con-
tinuous cropping by smaller yields.
Many OF these soils have been put
into alfalfa in the past five years,
and are proving TO be excellent for
that crop. Drainage is better and
humus helps to keep the alfalfa
coming.
Probably the largest area Of soil
which needs lining for profitable
crop production are the rolling light
sandy loans. Ii is on these soils
that most of the lime tests have been
made.
While lighter soils have not been
cropped nearly as long as the others
they have become Improbable in
many cases. These soils can be
brought back only through careful
management. The old method viii
have 10 be abandoned for the pre-
sent at least, and a carefully plan
ned system adopted Tests show
that the lime requirements are no.
as high on these soils but we find
that humus is lacking which makes
il all the more necessary for careful
management. The application OF
lime on these soils Will bring returns
to the owner. but the amount used
should be fully sufficient 20 last for
several years.
nj
ty of good mari or ground limestone
is used alfalfa has done much bet
ter than where smaller applications
were used. The plants make quick
er and better growth and did not
heave as much.
The lime requirement for these
soils varies from one 10 three tons
and this will be noticeable even on
the same or adjoining farms.
Il has been found that mari ap-
piled one 70 two years ahead OF al
falfa gives much better results In
looking over some OF the crop fail
ures. we find that too little lime has
been used in many cases. In others
the mari and coarser limestone ap-
plications have been made just pre-
vious to seeding and had not been
thoroughly worked into the soil.
To sum up the situation in the
county practically all soils are sour
and need lime From one 20 three
tons is required on the lighter and
medium soils. The addition OF a ton
OF the coarser limestOnes or mari
will be required for best results
where the test is based on fine lime
stone The APPLICATION Of lime year
or two ahead OF the alfalfa will ma
terially aid in getting a better stand.
On the lighter soils manure ploT-
ed in and lime APPLIED later and har-
rowed in will give better results. The
application Of lime should proceed
the use Of fertalizers where econo-
mical results are desired. Mari.
which is so plentiful in the county.
IS TO be encouraged Where possible
to get il out and the haul IS not TOO
great mari IS profitable and as cheap
or cheaper than other forms OF lime.
Cass county has unlimited mari
beds that await development, every
township has some mari deposits.
With the modern and better equip
ment coming on the market may
farmers are now seeking TO get their
mari close by. The mari survey.
which IS now being made by the
farm bureau through the county
agent will help many farmers 20
secure mari.