1676 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



the railroad station. On this hasis, limestone and marl should cost 

 $2.24 per ton and slaked lime $2.96 per ton. On the contrary, 

 farmers frequently pay $4 to $6 per ton for limestone and marl, 

 and $7 to $9 per ton for slaked lime. It is fair to say that one can 

 reasonably pay perhaps a dollar more per ton for limestone, marl 

 and hydrated lime than their indicated valne when compared to 

 fresh burned lime, because the former materials are much more 

 easily handled. 



In estimating the cost of liming land, the cost of the material, 

 the handling and the application must be considered. xVssum- 

 ing that an application of one ton of burned lime jier acre is cor- 

 rect, how does its cost compare with that of the other materials ? 



One ton of burned lime at railroad station $4 00 



Hauling 1 00 



Cost of applying ... 2 50 



Total cost per acre $7 50 



The cost of applying is high on account of the fact that burned 

 lump lime must be slaked before it is applied to the soil, and this 

 involves extra handling. It is also quite difficult to apply. 



The following figures tell the story in regard to hydrated lime : 



2,640 pounds of hydrated lime (equivalent to one ton of burned lime) 



at $7.00 per ton $9 24 



Hauling at $1.00 1 32 



Applying at $.75 per ton 99 



Total cost per acre $11 55 



The difference between $11.55 and $7.50 is due to a high first 

 cost in the case of hydrated lime and the expense involved in pay- 

 ing for and hauling 640 pounds of water combined with the 

 burned lime, notwithstanding the fact that the cost of application 

 is smaller. It is true that the convenience of handling and storing 

 hydrated lime may in a measure affect its increased cost over the 

 burned. 



