A GROWING INDUSTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 339, 22 February 1911, Page 5

A GROWING INDUSTRY.

«. - - Farmers oi' recent years have been advancing steadily in the matter of treatment of the soil in a scientific way. The benefit of lime from a manurial point of view has come into popular favour, more especially carbonate of lime, commonly known as lime in the raw state. Up till about. two years ago burnt lime wan used in most instances, but the results of investigation by experts have shown the value of raw lime. To meet, the increasing demand for this valuable product the Wilson Portland Cement Company, of Te Kuiti, is having machinery installed to deal with the demand for lime fur agricultural purposes. A "Chronicle" representative paid a visit to the works yesterday, and was shown over them by Mr J. Walsh, the courteous manager. The procedure of how carbonate of lime is produced was explained by Mr Walsh. A certain portion of the lime is got. by the ordinary process of screening the various sizes of metal. Tins is found to he insufficient to meet the demands for it, although special rollers are used for crushing. I'hese rollers, however, do not produce the lime in a manner satislacLory for working by the farmer, and a new mill, called a "Disintegrator." has been installed. This mill. Mr Walsh explained, would produee Cue lime hi a fine state lit to be sown by ~ dnii. The lime after tanning through th" rollers is. as a rule, caked, and would, after having gone through this new machine, be liko a powder. The enormous rate at, which the beaters travadled --all" revolutions a minute made the lime an easily workable manure. The manager informed the writer thai, ".! ten., o! lime went, to the llaiiraki flam.; oniy Cue other day, and latge MU.uiliti-vi e.o regularly !.•■ Taraoaki and the .North Auckland dt.;!.rie'. 'j'j„. engine room is sho! tly to have H till) horse power producer ens eng nuitalied, il«u- te the .aowmg demands ( ,f (.he indusine Large quantities ol „ u .t,;il and lime are being sent aii over the Nortii Island. Tin' VVaikato dis•rj,.| i i ~t present the biggest eon-AU'iiou-h it i- ; only five years, ilun .,. the' works were established. Uiev have advanced steadily and tic hiHUilation of the extra machinery, with the necessary addition of buildings, is giving the works an imposing ;l ppearanee. The industry has a good in Hue liet'ore it. and when the lands id' the King Country begin to he turned ever by the plough, farmers will have a very valuable asset; at. hand in being able to procure lime handy to th.eii fa nil s.