1678 Report of Fau.mers' Institutes 



in tlio process of slaking, is broken into mncli finer particles than 

 are prodnced bv grinding limestone. It often lia]ipens that small 

 applications of bnrncd lime, after slaking, give good returns ; 

 whereas an eqnivalent amount of ground stone shows no effect. 

 Such differences are not so noticeable when a ton or more of burned 

 lime or its equivalent in limestone are used per acre. In the case 

 of the small amounts of material it is a matter of fineness of divi- 

 sion. The more finely divided material is when applied to the 

 soil, the more quickly it is taken into solution and disseminated 

 through the soil mass. For immediate results fine material has a 

 great advantage. Limestone, the major portion of which passes 

 a sixty-mesh sieve, has given good results. 



Purity of material is also a point to be considered. Some marls 

 are only 50 per cent, pure carbonate of lime. Ground limestones 

 on the market run from 80 to 95 per cent, pure carbonate. Other 

 forms of lime show as great variations. The impurities in general 

 do no particular harm ; they are merely dilutents. There is no 

 objection to using a low-grade material so long as the price is right 

 and reduced in proportion to the impurities present. Buyers of 

 lime can protect themselves only by always insisting uj^on credit- 

 able guarantees of quality. 



The character of soil determines to some extent what kind of 

 lime to purchase. Many soils need improvement physically. More 

 of the plant food in them should be made available as well as 

 acidity corrected. Burned lime is best under these conditions. 

 Carbonate of lime corrects acidity but does not have much effect 

 upon physical ('(nulitions. 



QUANTITY PER ACRE AND MODE OF APPLICATION 



From the evidence, it appears that as a rule burned lime has 

 more to commend its use than the other forms. Its cost of applica- 

 tion is less ; it breaks up very fine, giving intimate contact with 

 the soil — hence immediate results ; and in addition to correcting 

 acidity it has an important physical action on compact, hard soils, 

 rendering them more open, porous and friable. 



It is generally best to purchase that form of lime which gives 

 the greatest amount of calcium for a dollar, be it quicklime. 



