GAS LIME FOR WIRE WORK

Otago Witness, Issue 1797, 30 April 1886, Page 7

GAS LIME FOR WIRE WORK

The prevalence of wireworm in laud being broken up this autumn for cropping next season has been commented upon by several of our correspondents, and a few remarks on gas lime as au antidote will consequently prove apposite. A word of warning as to the method of applying it is necessary, for gas lime must be cautiously used. The proper method is to top-dress at least a couple of mouths before sowing the crop. A slight harrowing after drefc&ing will be beneficial. Ploughing in the dressing in autumn is also an approved plan. Made into a compost heap aud allowed to remain so for two or three months is a judicious method, aud the crop will receive much benefit from a dressing of the compost. In all cased gas lime must bo exposed a sufficient time to atmospheric action in order that it may be deprived of its intense caustic properties. From replies received by Miss Orinerod in siuswer to inquiries as to the effect of gas lime as a means of clearing the ground of wireworm there cau be no doubt it has proved, in many cases, an effectual remedy for this pest. These replies are to be found in Bliss Ormerod's reports to the Royal Agricultural Society of England. One writes : — • " For clover leas I should put about lOcwt of gas lime to the acre, and then plough it under. I think this is a great preventive. If used for turnips, sow it on broadcast, and work it in, and then add what may he thought best fnr the crop." Another : — " I dressed a few acres with gas lime in March, aud it seems to have freed the ground wonderfully." A third :— "One autumn I ploughed m refuse gat, lime, aud from that time have never seen a wireworm iv that field." A fourth: —

" Some year.* ago complaint was made of the destruction of grain crops on a field of rather light soil. I advised the trial of gas lime, and several cart loads wero applied, with the result that not a trace of wireworm was seen for several years after." A fifth: —

" We are troubled with wireworm iv very old pastures, aud then our usual plan is ploughing up and aud dressing with gas lime." A sixth: — "Wireworms are more active iv the spring months, after a long frost (on account of the laud being then more porous), than they are in mild winters. I have used 30c\vt of gas lime to the acre on clover lea, aud harrowed the land a week or nine days before ploughing it up for wheat."

For this purpose gas lime should be applied in mild weather; for the wireworm burrows deep into the earth iv cold, frosty weather. Frecediug a spring crop, therefore, the application had better be iv the autumn, for fear of injury to the crop, unless the gas lime has already been exposed to the air for the necessary period.