365 



some conditions these impurities are an advantage, as for instance, 

 when Hmestone is to be added to Hght soil. As regards the 

 amount that should be applied per acre, experimental work in 

 England and America indicates the reversion to the old-time 

 custom of applying limestone in large rather than in small quanti- 

 ties at a time — by the ton rather than by the hundredweight. 

 Two tons of limestone per acre is said to be the smallest amount 

 that should be tried on an experimental scale at first. It may be 

 noted here that, in the case of very tenacious clays, it may be 

 found advisable to begin with a dressing of quicklime because the 

 action of this substance is more active than that of limestone. 



There is a call in New Zealand for more experiments with lime ; 

 it is suggested that demonstration plots should be laid down to 

 show the relative efficiency of ground limestone of varying grades 

 of fineness, and therefore of varying cost ; to show the effect of 

 varying quantities ; varying methods of application ; caustic lime 

 in varying forms ; the effects of these in combination with phos- 

 phates on various crops, and so on. In these as in all other 

 manurial experiments, a number of years will be required before 

 really decisive conclusions can be drawn as to the beneficial effects 

 derived under the various conditions. — Agricultural Nezvs. 



A NEW FIBRE DECORTICATOR. 



The advantages of a new machine for scutching sisal, flax, 

 hemp, ramie, hibiscus, jute, banana and other fibres are presented 

 in the Queensland Agricultural Journal for July, 1914. The 

 machine is known on the market as "La Francaise," and it is stated 

 that all information may be obtained from Mons. F. Michotte, 

 4.T, Avenue Trudaine, Paris. 



The advantages claimed for this machine are very briefly as 

 follows : It is adaptable for all sizes of leaves or stems ; it can 

 be set up to work in the field ; it is not complicated in construction 

 nor does it require skilled attention ; the work performed is said 

 to be perfect, rapid and economical, the leaves and stalks are 

 treated by direct attack, all the decortication is effected in one 

 passage through the machine ; the leaves or stalks have not to pass 

 through the beaters several times as is the case with other ma- 

 chines ; and a peculiarity of the machine is that no preliminary 

 hand labor is required to remove the leaves, as is often the case in 

 connection with ramie. The motor power is economical. 



La Francaise will treat about 2,700 lbs. of dried leaves or stalks 

 and 5,620 lbs. of green in a day of ten hours, producing about 

 337 lbs. of dry fibre. Consequently it is equal to decorticating in 

 five days the crop of two and a half acres of hemp, representing 

 27,000 lbs. of stalks or leaves. The price of the machine (at the 

 works) complete is £58 10s. 



