LIME AS MANURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2823, 16 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

LIME AS MANURE.

TO TUB KDITOK. Sin,—lt is a hopeful sign nf the times to see the Waikato farmers bestirring themselves and utilising what Natme has brought to their door in place of going outside of the colony for all their manures, and there can be no doubt of the efficacy and even of the necessity of limes for most soils, and seeing it is a reproductive agent and will add to the exports of the country and so increase the traffic on the railway all the way to Auckland, the carriage should be lowered to a minimum. But the Government cannot, or should not give a bonus, which could not be given to one unless it was given to all, which would be no advantage, as all would have to pay it buck in additional taxation. Lime is required for all the land in Waikato, for all tho crops grown, and for tho beuefit of the flocks and herds, as it will be found the bone and wool will be greatly increased, and tho grain crops will bo heavier, brighter and fleer from rust and other parasites. Flocks and crops will be equally improved, according to the great law of equilibrium which regulates production, and subordinates tho animal to tho plant, an seen in the Flanders horse, and the Shetland pony, aud as seen after a farm has limed the effect is not transient and will ba greater the second year, and I have seen its effects on Rra.-w fifteen years after it had been applied. For those not accustomed to its use, I may give a few hints. It may be made into a compost with any vegetable matter or soil, and spread on grass, or it may be spread on the grass, but it is preferable to put it on the fallow ground, which should first be drained if possible (to put it on wet land is to throw it away) ami plouehed deep, according to the nature of the soil, when the surface should be harrowed, and furrows drawn fifteen feet apart, as a convenient size of a ridge for spreading and ploughing, this will give 44 chains, along, to the acre, when the lime in the shell state should be put on in small heaps, about three tons to an aero for light land, in ordor to have the heaps at equal distances, a piece of rag should be tied to one of the spokes of a wheel, and a heap 1 put down each revolution, it is cheaper and better to do it exactly, than by haphazard. The heaps should be covered up at once, with earth, to prevent soaking with ruin, which should be avoided, the limo will soon fall down into powder, when it must be evenly spread and harrowed, and randeled, mr ploughed in with a very light furrow. It is lost if turned in deep, as it is only by the rains carrying it into the soil from the surface its full effect can be got. The land will now be ready for :i crop, which I prefer to sowing down at once, the liine being better incorporated with the soil and more likely to grow crop. Lime is a plant food, but cannot take the place of other food. It is more a tonic, and enables the earth, which may bo considered the stomach of the plants, to prepare the food which is continually digesting, being used up by the plants, or washed out by the winter rains. It lies with the fanners whether to use up this food ay sowing green crops and storing it up for sheep or cattle, or ploughing it directly into the ground for a grain crop. The fiarth i< vrry grateful, and will hold nothing back if properly treated, and a winter crop to keep stock in condition is a mine rational and thrifty plan than the prevailing one of feeding cattle upon the fat acquired during the summer, like the bears, but where the bears live green food cannot be grown. If man fee/j cattle on their own fat they should not grumble about bad times; but I am entering on a wide field, and will call a halt for the present.—l am, &c, T.M.