LIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 15

LIME.

(COSIUUXICATED.)

So far as is evident from the prevailing method of applying lime to land, farmers appear to be governed by only one idea — viz., to give the ground a seven-years' dose all at once.

Lime, it ie said, has a beneficial effect, eßpecially on grass and cereal crops, for that number of years, after which it is necessary to lay on another such dose, — a dose of about three tons to the acre.

Now, if three tons of lime serve one acre oT ground well ior seven years, it is a simple calculation to find out that one ton will serve it better for two years, and for that time will be amply sufficient, if properly and judiciously administered. To do this the first apparent difficult is how tc spread so small a quantity ovei that area. To prepare the for spreading it should be mixed with other matters whose constituent element' will form good plant food. Many things about a farm can be employed for this purpose, and these are chiefly accounted rubbish to be got rid of. The heaps of couch or twitch and other weeds that are gathered from the land, the coarse rushy grass, bracken, a«d thistles "that grow proiuEely on untilled and untillable spots, the heaps of chaff that have to be carefully burned after threshing, the remnants of old straw stacks (sometimes burned), — all these can be mixed in alternate layers with the unslaked lime, and when the mixture is afterwards wetted the consequent chemical action will convert all that was obnoxious and dangerous to good farming into rare good plant food. A turning ovei of the heap with a shovel will mix the ingredients better, and when opportunity serves it cap be carted out and spread at once,— the sooner th« better. Dead carcases can also be converted ialo excellent

manure by covering them over with unslaked lime, and in a' short time nothing, will be left of them but the clean skeleton, ready for transmission to the bone mill.,

It will thus be seen that not only can a small amount of lime be easily applied to land when necessary, but that various things, otherwise lost, may be made of use in this good husbandry of lime. Such composts of lime are of special benefit as top-dressings for the improvement of pastures. By thus dealing with lime farmers will see that they need not wait till spring time -so as to drive the lime from the trucks to the furrows, but that they may procure it at any time When they have rubbish that can be utilised for a compost ; and they may be sure that any extra trouble will -be fully" repaid, for they will be saved the expense oE buying dearer special manures. This economical plan of using up weeds, elc, is chiefly to be commended to occupants of small holdings. Furthei ,-• it may be pointed out that by applying small quantities of lime in a state ready for plant food a tenant may be , sure to get a return* for his expense in one or two_ years. No tenant need, therefore. quarrel with, his landlord because either is unwilling to be at the cost of laying on a seven-years' dose of lime.

The foregoing has been written with a view also of lessening the rush for lime at one season, and showing those whom it benefits that it is better for them tG be getting lime at all seasons, and thus stea-dy the trade in it. It might be advantageous for the lime-burners to have depots at various places for the convenience of farmers, who might be able to get a ton or two when necessary.