LIME

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3020, 21 November 1891, Page 5 (Supplement)

LIME

Ltmf. is a constituent of all plants ; its function is connected with the building up ot the tissues and the formation of cell walls, It is one of the twelve primary constituents found in plants These twelve constituents are: Water (hydrogen and oxygen) carbon, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, lime, iron oxide, magnesia, sulphuric acid, silica, soda and chlorine.

The question arises : " Are all these constituents of plants indispensable or not ?" Not everyone is required for plant, life. The last two. soda and chlorine arc not necessary for the production of farm crops ; (red clover is benefied by manures containing soda) but the remain ing ten constituents must be present in all soils, for "they are absolutely ncccssary for the growth of plants." Among rhese ten vital constituents of plants, lime plays no mean part. Lime is not only a direct plant food, but it is one of the most variously effective of manures, and should therefore be studied from many points of view.

(A) Lime acts upon the various ingredients contained in soils. It makes those that are inert assimilable plant foods, and destroys the bad qualities of the ingredients that are prejudicial to farm crops. Hence it gives fertility to boggy, peaty, or Organic soils, by neutralizing the injurious organic acids present in such soils. Therefore lime is an antidote for "sour" lands, which produce a harsh and coarse herbage of little value as food.

(A) Lime, by decomposing organic mat ter, hastens the process of nitrification.

(<•) Lime has the power of liberating soluble potash from insoluble compounds present in soils.

(d) Lime improves the physical nature of the soil, and has a tendency to pioinote healthy growth in plants.

(e) In the working of clay lands, lime is very valuable. Besides converting insoluble compounds into soluble ones, it renders such lands more friable, and therefore facilitates ploughing.

(/') It has also beneficial clients on soils of a light nature. It renders them less porou3, therefore better able to resist the parching action of the sun's heat during a hot, dry summer. Limo also helps to retain moisture in light sandy soils.

[g) The judicium admixture of lime to most soils is of the utmost importance in any system of husbandry. (/() fiime has proved an excellent " specific " for the turnip disease (" finger and toeespecially for those crops growing on >i»/J-calcareous soils. There are two kinds of lime at the farmer's disposal—quicklime and carbonate of lime. As a general rule, on heavy soils and those vich in organic matter, quicklime should be used. For light soils and those poor in organic matter, carbonate of lime should form the dressing. Both kinds of lime should be harrowed into the land. Tho best and most economical method to treat quicklime is to take a water eart round and water the lime heaps as soon as tlioy have been placed on the ground. After this alacking, the heap should be protected from the air by a covering of earth, and left covered until they are spread over the land. The quantity to apply is from nne to two tons per acre every six or eight years, and the application should be made some timo before that of other manures. Lime should never be mixed with sulphate of ammonia, or similar compounds of ammonia. Wheat, barley (especially for malting), grasses, turnips, beans, peas, clovers, potatoes and vetches are ail benefitted by dressings of lime. The autumn and early winter are the most favourable times of the year for the laud with lime.