The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-04-03

DEPARTMENT FOR THE ACRlCULTURSIS
Lime for Acid Soil
(BY M. A. NYEl

Lime for Acid Soil
(By M. A. NYE)
Different types of acid soils re
spond differently to lining. Heavier
soils around Sank Centre are MOI
generally acid, but if they are, they
will not show as great results from
lining as light acid soils.
Good rich heavy soil may show 6
slight acidity, but, generally, lining
it has not shown results. Light sandy
soil, showing the same slight acidity
will show great increases in croI
growth and yields, due to lining.
If field on your farm or your
whole farm is acid soil, the surest way
of convincing yourself of what re.
suits you will get from lining Alfalfa
or Sweet Clover or any crop, is to
try lining on small scale.
r.
Forms of Lime
Lime for Agricultural purposes car
be obtained in several forms. Lime.
stone can be purchased commercially
in four different forms, as quick-lime,
air-slaked lime, water-slaked lime and
ground limestone. Mari is form OF
limestone which is very efficient and
practical for field lining. Fifty-siS
pounds of quick-lime equals seventy
four pounds of water-slaked lime OF
100 pounds of air-slaked lime, mari
or ground limestone.
Finely ground limestone as it
comes from the stone quarry should
be applied at the rate of two to three
tons per acre. Quick-lime or air
Stacked lime, when they are used, are
applied at lesser rates as the above
proportions indicate. They are both
much more concentrated forms OF
limestone and are not required in
such large weights per acre in order
to give the same results from lining.
Quick lime and air-slaked lime are,
however, much harder to apply, espec-
tally quick lime. 1t burns the clothes
and flesh if precautions are not tax
en- to guard against it. Air-slaked
lime is light and fluffy and is blown
easily by even a mild wind.
r.
Ground Limestone
Finely ground Agricultural Lime
stone is the most practical form OF
commercial limestone. 1t can be
purchased usually for around a dollar
a ton at the quarry, the freight charge
being the bulk of the cost. This is
applied at the rate of two or three
tons per acre. 1t should always be
distributed on plowed ground and disc
in, never plowed under.
r.
MARI
Marls will run from 0 to 95 pc,
cent pure limestone of calcium car.
-, 10 do ~
mari can be had without too much
of haul, it is usually the. cheapest
and best form of limestone farmer
can obtain. Mari is the most i'm.
mediately available form of limestone
Mari beds are plentiful through
out central and eastern Minnesota
They are commonly found in old lake
beds and pot holes and in sandy ter
ritory. In the winter when the
ground is frozen, farmers drive righ
out on the bed and load their wagons
The beds sometimes show above the
surface of the ground and others art
buried under several feet of muck
Mari or limestone is either broadcast
ed with shovel; spread with a ma
nure spreader or regular lime sower
Mari is applied at the rate of two tt
three tons per acre.
q
Limestone not a Fertilizer
Limestone in any form is no
classed as soil fertilizer but a sol
conditioner. 1t sweetens sour o.
acid soil. This sweetening permits
certain important soil bacteria t.
thrive, whereby, they could not whel
the soil was acid.
Alfalfa and Sweet Clover require
lots of limestone. After they be-
come rooted down, there is generally
plenty of limestone in the lower
stratas of soil, but limestone must BIZ
in the upper few inches of soil ir
order to give the tender plants ;
start.
a.
Mari Beds
Mari is generally white or ligh
greyish in color. 1t is usually stick.
and silly. Mari beds are found il
old lakes, pot holes, low place!
stream beds, etc.
If you think you have found some
mari, bring in sample to the Blu,
Valley Farm Service and have
tested. We will tell you.
1924 Pig Gets Good Start; Lit
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