LIME AS A FERTILISER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1528, 20 April 1882, Page 4

LIME AS A FERTILISER.

Ox tho value of lime as a, fertiliser we take the following extract from the San Francisco Weekly Chronicle :— " Lime is everywhere an essential of a fertile soil, and is more extensively used where agriculture occupies an advanced position than any other mineral, substance. It is applied in a vaiiety of foims, but in this country only common lime, plaster, and mail, are of much niteiost. Lime can scaicely be applied to any soil judiciously without advantage ; but as under varying circumstances its effects also vary, caie and experience are required in its application — in other woids, the quantity to bo used depends upon circumstances, and can only be told by experiment and practice. Not long since Professor Hilgaid, in discussing the objects and interpretation of soil analysis, gave among other tilings the following advantages resulting from an adequate supply of' lime in soils : — L A more rapid transformation of vegetable matter into active humus winch manifests itself by a dark or deep black tint of the soil. 2. The retention of such liumus, against the oxidising influences of hot climates ; witness the high humus peicentiige of such soils, as against all others, in the Southern .States. 3. Whether tlnough the medium of this humus, or in a more direct manner, it rendeis adequate for piofitable culture percentages ot phosphoric acid and potash so small that, in the case of defiienoy or absence of lime, the soil is practically sterile. 4. It tends to secure tne pi opei maintenance ot the conditions of nitrification, -\\heieby the inert nitrogen of the soil is rendered available. 5. It exerts a most impoitant physical action on the ilocculation, and theiefore on ti liability of tho soil, as heretofore shown by Sehlu'feing and by myself."