Right Use of Lime in Soil Improvement

A century before modern soil science became a discipline, Alva Agee was already explaining why lime transforms struggling fields into productive land. This practical guide, drawn from extensive field research and hands-on experimentation, reveals the chemistry behind soil acidity and how correcting it unlocks nutrients plants desperately need. Agee walks readers through identifying acidic soil, selecting from the various forms of available lime, testing pH levels, and applying the right amount at the right time. He debunks the myths that still persisted in early 20th-century farming, replacing superstition with data-driven recommendations backed by experimental results from farms across different regions. The principles here have not changed. Soil still becomes acidic. Lime still neutralizes it. Plants still thrive when their root environment is balanced. For modern readers, this book offers something rare: a direct window into how agricultural science was being forged in real time, with practical wisdom that any gardener, small-scale farmer, or soil enthusiast can still apply today.