TREATMENT OF SOILS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 November 1919, Page 3

TREATMENT OF SOILS.

MR. PATTERSON'S LECTURE

About fifty farmers attended the very interesting lecture in the Agricultural Hall on Monday evening, given by Mr T. H. Patterson, lecturer in agriculture for the Department ot Agriculture, and arranged by the Kaipara and Wairoa branches of the N.Z. Farmers' Union. Mr J. Grey presided, and introduced Mr Patterson whom, he said, was both a farmer and a student, having had the hard, practical training on a New South Wales farm, and the benefits of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College training as well. The speaker impressed on those present the fact that the Agricultural Department was willing to put at the disposal of farmers any of their staff of competent instructors at any period.

Mr Patterson, on commencing his lecture, stated that he had visited several farms during the day, to find out by actual touch what was most required for the lands of this portion of the country, and what could be done with the lands. From what he had seen, he had chosen » subject of practical use locally, and had decided to deal with

LIME AND LIMING

In New Zealand, from Awanui to the Bluff, most soils were deficient in lime. The principal foods that plants wanted were dissolved, and were taken into the plant in the form of gas or liquid. Plants got 95 per cent of their food from the air, and the other 5 per cent came from the soil, in the form of potash, phosphates, nitrogen, and lime. These were the four essentials required by every plant. In addition, plants required sulphur, soda, and magnesia, but every soil contained sufficient of these. If the other four essentiels were deficient, they must be added.* Lime was, in the order named, the fourth essential, but was all important, and must be added to the soil; Farmers, to determine , what proportion of lime their land required, were advised to i make use of the Department's experts, who would tell, by tests, just what proportion was required. Lime gave plants better conditions to live in, by altering the soils,

The class of lime to be used varied for the nature of the soil to be treated. The Dominion was fortunate in having pretty good limestone deposits right throughout. Anything above 75 per cent was good. Differently treated lime worked out in the following proportions ; Out of 100 lbs of lime, when ground 100 lbs still remained, the same quantity slaked left 741bs, and burnt lime left sQlbs. For light soils, such as the hills surrounding Helensville, ground stone lime was most suitable. For soils that grew clover or crops that have pods, where the soil contained good organic matter, burnt or slaked lime was best. For swamp land, especially kahikatea swamp, which was invariably sour, burnt or slaked lime was also most suitable.

The beauty of lime was that it broke up heavy clay lands, but before using lime drainage wa.s absolutely essential. S,oil worked better, either wet or dry, when it had been limed. It was a peculiarity that while lime broke up clay soils, it had a tendency to bind light, sandy soils, and make them stiffen,

The lecturer reiterated the fact that the Department was prepared to analyse any soi] submitted to them, free" of charge, Soil with less than 1 per cent of lime absolutely required it. Crops cannot be grown in sour soils, and lime had the effect of sweetening such soils. He had noticed on some farms on the flats docks, sorrel, sundew, etc., a sure indication that the soils they were growing in were sour, Lime had also the effect of keeping down rust spores, and blight spores in potato crops. He mentioned that when cattle take to chewing bones, leg ropes, etc., it was an indication that the animals were not getting enough lime. Investigations carried out by the Department in other parts had proved that cattle, where lime was deficient, had a tendency as above mentioned, but had entirely ceased the habit when lime was introduced in sufficient quantities. Lnne was very soluble, and should never be put in deep. Slaked lime acted quickly, burnt moderately, and ground slowly. It was no good, said Mr Patterson, liming without well manuring as well, unless on very good soil. Lime and use manure at the same time—put a little 01} at a time, but put often.. [Continued on Page 4.]