Lime and Harrowing

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

Lime and Harrowing

It is commonly assumed that an acid soli is not in a suitable condition for the successful growth of crops. Soil acidity, however, is a relative term, in the light of the knowledge that some crops plants can successfully support a reasonable degree of acidity and bp capable of producing a prei htable yield, when some other species | may be very injuriously affected. The potato is not at its best in a vcsy alkaline soil containing a high percentage of lime, which may induce ordinary j scab, but It docs particularly well in a somewhat acid soil, whereas the turnip and its allies are extremely j liable to the disease, tinger-and-toe, ! when grown in acid soils; so much so I that a heavy dressing of lime is rc- j cognised as the most valuable means of rendering such soil tit to grow the same species again, and free from the disease. It is well known to expert gardeners, who commonly deal with a far wider range of species than are found on the farm, that many planls which they grow are intolerant of lime, while many others equally demand tiie presence of lime in quantity if they arc to be raised with sue- j ccss. Generally speaking, the ordinary economic crops of the farm and garden are best grown in a non-acid soil. In this connection it is to be borne in mind that most crops remove a proportion cf lime from the soil in which they grow, and this in itself is an indication how very necessary it is to add lime to the soil at regular intervals, Another thing that must also be borne in mind is that the application of certain fertilisers may have the result of decreasing the amount cf lime through the formation of soluble lime j 1 compounds which are washed out of ! : the lop soil in the drainage waters. It has often been stressed in these eel- ' i umns that lime is not only of groat J value in itself bul that il also assists i the usual lortilisers to more properly j carry out their functions. I ,