Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1917 — County Agent Tells Value of Limestone As Fertilizer. [ARTICLE]

County Agent Tells Value of Limestone As Fertilizer.

The following letter was received today signed “Ex Farmer”: I see much in the Agricultural papers -abeut-the use of stone for fertilizer. Do the lands of this section need lime ? If so, where is it to be had ? I know of no sur-' face rock* in this section. Some crop* out in the river at Renssealer and some near the surface at Pleasant Ridge. Do those f rocks contain what the soil requires ? Would it not be of great interest to the farmers of this section if you would investigate those subjects and report through the county papers?” Reply: Much and probably most of the soil in Jasper county needs lime to correct the acidity which it contains. This is especially true of the sand and muck regious of the county, although numerous tests show that the loams also contain a small amount of acid, required from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds. of ground limestone per acre to render it neutral. The rocks outcropping..the. surface. _at— numerous points in the county are of a low grade limestone and if properly ground might be used in treating acid soils, although it is probably cheaper to ship in a high grade of ground limestone than to crush much of that available in the county. High grades of ground limestone may be secured at Monon, Kankakee, Delphi, Huntington, Bedford and numerous other points in the state at prices ranging from $1.17 to $2.00 per ton f. o. b. the various stations in this county. STEWART LEAMING, County Agricultural Agent.