LIME

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24370, 23 September 1944, Page 4

LIME

NEW ZEALAND PRACTICES

APOPTION IN AUSTRALIA

Farmers who have visited Australian farms have been surprised at the little progress made in most of the States in the use of lime. One reason advanced for this was the high cost of lime, which even now, after various reductions, costs 22s 6d to 25s a ton atvthe crushers, as against 16s in New Zealand at a railway destination within 100 miles. There has been a substantial increase •under war conditions in the application of lime. ■, „_ , „„ A strong plea (the "Sydney Morning Herald" says) for the release of more agricultural lime was made by the agrostologist for the southern tablelands, Mr W. D. Hardy. At all times, war or peace, he said, lime, in 'conjunction with other fertilisers, was absolutely essential to vegetable growers and to pastoralists in some areas. In the Moss Vale district, for instance, growers would not think of planting a cabbage without at least a ton of lime to the acre. Dairy farmers who were carrying out pasture work on the red basaltic soils of Robertson and Kangaloon had told him it was a waste of time to apply superphosphate unless a ton of lime to the acre could be applied every two or three years. Departmental trials at Robertson confirmed this opinion, demonstrating that a combination of lime and superphosphate was necessary to maintain good clover growth in the sward. Without lime the response from clover was very poor. Experience showed that a pasture composed of a good balance of grass and clover provided one of the best and cheapest forms of fodder for the dairy cow. Only by the application of lime and super could a high producing pasture be maintained. Tn riioiiecino tuitVi "Straffalnr" iho in.

in discussing witn "btraggier tne incidence of the use of lime in New South Wales and Victorian districts, where he recently was engaged by farming interests to advise on crop production and grass land establishment, Mr R. McGillivray, former Fields Superintendent at Christchurch for the Department of Agriculture, said that he had visited the southern highlands of New South Wales during the spring of 1941, and again in June of this year. He was asked to go to these districts in 1941 because of the continued failure of crops on land owned by two business men in Sydney. It was explained that large dressings of fertiliser were being applied, but no response was being obtained, although at one time excellent results were seen. The soil was good and the rainfall was over-abundant at times. From the appearance of peas and beans and other crops a deficiency of lime was evident, and he advised accordingly. Mr McGillivray said that he did not hear anything further about the matter until about 18 months later, when a copy of a Sydney paper was sent.to him containing a statement from an officer of the Department of Agriculture to the effect that "astounding results" were being obtained from the use of lime at Avoca near Moss Vale, on the highlands. It was interesting, therefore, now to have a statement on the matter from the agrostologist. In his visit in June to the highlands Mr McGillivray said that a farmer had told him that the crops had been failing for many years past, and it had taken them from 10 to 15 years to find out the cause. There was not now any doubt in the minds of farmers as to what was required. In view of the fact, that the arable farmers were using 5 to 6 cwt of fertiliser an acre with their crops, it could be seen that the lack of response had been a serious matter to them. Mr McGillivray knew that departmental officers were now anxious that farmers should obtain the necessary supplies of lime, but labour shortage was holding up supplies.

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