LIME FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

Northern Advocate, 3 July 1917, Page 1

LIME FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY,

AT WHANGAREI WINTER SHOW.

The following is the text, of the composition on . the above-indicated subject which won first prize for Cyril Thompson (Std. V., Whangarei School) at the recent Winter Show: —

Lime! What is it? . It is a white substance obtained from limestone. There are. two varieties of lime used for agricultural purposes, one is green lime, and the other ■ burnt or caustic lime, the effects of the burning being to drive off the carbonic acid. Green lime is crushed limestone, while burnt lime is the results of niuch baking in kilns. Both of these limes'are largely used on farm lands, there, being quite a difference of opinion as to "■.which is' the more valuable.

Lime acts on soils in- a.number-of ways, the general effect being to increase the cropping power and thence the value of land . Not all lands require liming, as many soils contain sufficient, and the best results-'of using lime, are obtained from the stiff clays.

Lime differs from other manures, for instance basic slag, in that unlike the latter it is defective in forcing qualities. Its main value is that it assists to destroy animal and vegetable substance, and tends to- cleanse and sweeten the ground. Low-lying lands that have been subjected to flood waters for many years soon show when drained and limed a beneficial result,' Northern lands, especially, the poor and heavy clays, whose surface soil is thin, are generally defective in lime, a systematic- application of which gives very encouraging results.

We have at Hikurangi, immense deposits of limestone a good deal of which contains up to 90 per cent, of pure lime. Wjorks have been established there for special treatment of these deposits. Already considerable quantities of lime have been disposed of in this, district, but with the subdivision of northern lands, with closer settlement, and more up-to-dato methods of farming there will be a much greater demand for agricultural lime- Recognising the value of limes as an aid to agriculture, the Government have liberally assisted by carrying lime free of charge on the railways up to a distance of one hundred miles.

TEW ZEALAND FORCES.