LIMING THE LAND

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVIII, Issue 5963, 14 July 1920, Page 2

LIMING THE LAND

EXPERT VIEWS GIVEN. An address on "lime and liming!" was given by Sir T. H. Patterson (instructor in agriculture at Auckland) at Wedconference of the Council of Agriculture, 'held at Wellington. He pointed out that lime had been appjlied to tlie soil since the dawn of agricultural history. The relation of tho practise of liming to progressive agriculture in New Zealand was spoken of. In ito importance in maintaining soil fertility lime was iseoond only to phosphate. Mr Patterson gave several instances showing the need for lime in New Zealand jsoils. Ho touched on the good results acoruing from the right use of lime, and incidentally ho pointed to the abuses arising from its misuse. Small quantities at frequent were better than large amonnts*at one time. Freshly burnt ilime depleted ,4-he (soli of 'humus. A greater knowledge of lime and liming would tend towards the more extensive an.l judicious use of lime. High-priced land called to-iday for higher grade farming, and this required lime. Mr W. Perry (M«v>terton) described his experiments with ilime extending over 15 years. At first he usejd burnt lime, but lie found that big quantities of this were not effectivo until after one of two years' of application. The effect of burnt lime 'was not immediate. He finally discarded the nse of burnt limo and applied crushed lime to his soil. This had proved very beneficiaß, and he wished that he had three tons of carbonate of lime to the acre n|l over his property. It was a good proposition to treat soil/? with both manure and lime. V -Many farmers did not realise what they were missing in not going in for carbonate of lime.