Forest Hill Lime.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 19, 5 September 1905, Page 3

Forest Hill Lime.

A case of unusual inteVest to farmers came before the Gore Court last Thursday (24th August), when J. E. Watson and Co, Ltd (Mr Inder) sued the Southland Farmers' Cooperative Association (Messrs W. Y. H. Hall and E. C. Smith) for the recovery of £25 6s lOd, for ground lime supplied. Defendants counter-claimed for £19 lis 6d. j 'Throughout the hearing the court was thronged with farmers. The case commenced on Thursday morning, that day's sitting continuing until 10.30 p.m., and lasting all day on Friday, concluding shorly after nine o'clock p.m., The Magistrate (Mr Cruickshank) reserved his decision. The point at issue was whether carbonate of lime as supplied by the plaintiff firm was a recognised commercial community, or whether lime m an agricultural sense meant caustic (or burned) lime. In opening the case for the plaintiffs. Mr Inder said they had to meet the allegations that they were selling the farmers rubbish ; therefore their reputation was at stake. They had' made a specialty of the lime business. Soine years ago a settler at Forest Hill named Queale told plaiutiffs about a deposit of lime on his property, some of which he had distributed over his land with markedly good effects. Plaintiffs had samples analysed by the most competent experts, who pronounced the deposit ta be carbonate of lime m a very fine state of division. Subsequently plaintiffs acquired tbe deposit and erected a complete plant. W illiam Bobertson deposed that during the time he was there they put out 1200 tons and could not overtake the demand. George Mclndoe, analytical chemist, Invereargill, deposed that he examined the deposit at Forest Hill, and was favourably impressed with it. The analysis gave 89.49 per cent, of carbonate of lime. The product was of great value, it was a chemical food and absolutely essential to the plant. The disadvantage of caustic lime was that it killed the bacteria ia the soil* If Witness wanted tb cultivate bacteria m the soil he would use carbonate of lime. If he wished to slay them he would employ caustic lime. The opinion of Professor MoLaurin, Government Analyst, at Wellington, was read. This stated that to be fruitful the soil must contain carbonate of lime. It is better to use frequent dressings of oarbonate of lime than infrequent dressings (m large quantities) of caustic lime. Professor Black's opinion was read. This stated that much of the Otago and Southland land would give better results with carbonate than with caustic lime. In New Zealand lime was generally understood to be caustio lime; that was because carbonate of lime was not used until a few years ago. Mr' Hall contended that plaintiffs had not supplied what was usually understood as lime, and therefore should be nonsuited. In any good dictionary, lime was described as caustic lime — lime out of which the carbon had been driven by fire. Evidence of a number of farmers was given that they had got no results from the Forest Hill lime. G. M. Thomson, analytical chemift, Dunedin, deposed that he made an analysis of lime for Mr E. H. Smith. jThe analysis, produced, was his, and waß a correct description of the article he received.' It was [ of no value. Decision was reserved.