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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 594, 16 August 1913, Page 3

IMPORTANCE OF LIME. Lime is an important manurial constituent of all soils, and assists the nStural weather agencies in promoting a fine taste of division amongst the soil particles. By this means the ground is opened up and aerated, and many insect pests and diseases attacking growing cropß are checked. When forming a mixture of artificial manure care must be taken to prevent the development of chemical action between the different element composing the mansre. For example, if sjperphosate is mi :ed with nitrate of soda the sulphuric acid contained in the former manure undergoes a reaction with the soda of the nitrate 2nd liberate free nitric acid in the form of poisonous fumes. In this manner a valuable store of free nitrogen is lost. Similarly, basic slag must not be mixed with sulphate of ammonia for a quantity of free ammonia will thereby become lost. Further loss is also to be experienced if basic slag is mixed with superphosphate. The following mixtures can, however, b9 made without fear of losing any of the valuable fertilising elements which it is desired to apply to the soil: Nitrate of soda and basic slag, sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate, organic manures and mineral manures, basic slag and bones.