LIMING FOR PARASIDES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14608, 18 May 1918, Page 5

LIMING FOR PARASI DES.

..• .'. •■♦ ( .' — •■ ■ A subject of special interest to the dis-' trict is dealt with m ; a recent issue of the Australasian. It bears directly on the efforts made locally to obtain l'supplies of lime, and the losses that have been suffered through intestinal disease m sheep. The writer, "Hickd'ry," is recognised as one of the most practical agriculturists m Australia. • For many years he held the position of farm superi intendent of the Dookie Agricultural College, Victoria; later accepting the, position of argictiltural editor to' the 1 ' Australasian. He is also n't the present 'time a member^f the Council of Agricultural Education of Victoria-,' having been appointed to that body by 'the agricultural societies as their representative. The article is as follows:—' • , A few. progressive farmers are applying lime to the soil, because they recognise that the absence of this substance is reponsible for poor, crops, for' the disappearance of the best pasture grasses, for the growth of weeds like sorrel, and to some extent for the 'prevalence of cripples and similar diseases among- .stottk. It must also be pointed out'that a liberal dressing of lim© to the* pasture, will do more to 1 eradicate • trouble from worms than all the licks, pills, and powdars which have often been recommendod. Veterinary surgeons m all' the' States have continually affirmed .that most of the fti^ouble \ri%h stock during- those last two. or three wet seasons has ai'ise'n from worms, and liming' is the best preventive. It is not possible to carry out liming on a lai'gtf scale m the purely pastoral districts/unless thoi'e are lime deposits close handy which are easily worked; but on mixed farms; where; '.sheep-breeding or dairying is oa'rried on m conjunction with farming, a groat : deal ' of ; good, can be. done m improving both crops and stod£ by the application 0f.,-^nie, even, if it is limited to otia' paddoc^ each year". A rp|ati.Qii'. <>f' croppfrigl X^ti*? does hot .lie '.jfru't m 'pastutl^Jdijger.ibhun a year. or X^q.'. ',tisM. '.!&liß\dsvAfyy, "a? does'alsiO builiine''if.'the'qqickest destroyer of worms, Nearly- all the I worm-parasites require soil or surface water fou their, development; and if wormy sheep be', introduced on clpan pasture it soon becomes infected. Lime "will destroy the worms, a'jid thu^ pi-event the j same or .clean animals front picking up the parasites while cropping the grass. The present and prospipctiyp 'prices of stock will wan'ant expen"diture on lime on a.fajr scale, especially wharo freightage is not a heavyitein.; Sn\all quantities applied every, autun^n?" such;ns'scwt. to per acre, /give Hhehbest results; tmt some prefer to "ajgplv; ono ton per 'acVo every five years;;' or, jpc'wt. every "tjyp years. .Grountl /limestp'np is preferrfed. One hundredweight? of siiper.. per acre is usually, employed .for top-dressnig pastures,- and shbuld - be' put on one mpnth aiter the : lime.,. Tt)e lime may 09 spwn with a drilf ' crossw^ys. "if small, quantities are to. bepused ; ; "but, it will pay.almbs.t every farmer W-hav^ a limesureader'on the place. Neighbors 'may reduce the cost by purch?jsir]ig co-opera-tively. The cost - of ' liming may appear comparatively heayy ; but- I. Know 1 more ■ilAirf si few sheep-pwnerte and; dairymen |whQ could balance ..thiscpsfasrainst losses •m lambs amj. calves, and show a good margin of profit m liming. ,