Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1916 — SLAKED LIME GOOD FOR SOUR SOILS [ARTICLE]

SLAKED LIME GOOD FOR SOUR SOILS

Entirely Satisfactory for Correcting Acidity—Great Deal Depends on Dryness. "Slaked lime, if it can be had at less cost than ground limestone, and if in condition to spread well, is entirely satisfactory for correcting acidity in sour soils.” This is the reply of the soils department at the Wisconsin experiment station to numerous inquiries as to which of the two is the better. Outside of the cost, the relative value and merits of these two forms of lime depends on their dryness of fineness, for these factors influence the readiness with which the lime can be spread on the land. Chemically, slaked lime is practlcly the same as the limestone unless it is slaked only enough to make it unfit for masons’ use. In such case, it may still be quite caustic and have many lumps. Caustic lime is nearly twice as effective as the ground limestone in neutralizing acidity pound for pound, but it costs more and is much harder to distribute because the lumps, at least, must be water slaked. For these reasons, the ground limestone is usually preferable when it .can be had at a reasonable price. In regard to the crops for which lime is applied, one caution especially must be observed, and that is, not to put caustic lime on land that is to bo planted to potatoes the first year.