15 Nov., 1919.] Farm Notes. 683 



time and nature. Burnt lime is liable to deteriorate, as it absorbs water 

 from the atmosphere, and for these reasons should be obtained fresh from 

 the limeworks and applied as soon as possible. It should be ground 

 fine for preference when it can be applied more easily and evenly than 

 in the lump. To apply burnt lime to soils already poor in humu3 

 (decaying vegetable matter) is a mistake, as it is liahle to burn and 

 destroy this valuable constituent. 



Ground limestone is the unburned limestone simply ground fine, 

 and though not as powerful as the burned time, is safer and more easily 

 a'pplied to most soils. In order to obtain the same amount of actual 

 lime per acre, twice ihe quantity should be applied as compared with 

 burnt lime. It is about half the price, con»sequently the freight and 

 spreading are the only two disadvantages. It is slower in its action 

 than burned lime, but is much easier to handle and spread. 



Gypsum, or sulphate of lime, is found in natural deposits in very 

 large quantities, and where easily procurable, pays well for distribution 

 upon the soil and grass lands. It takes two and seven-tenths, or roughly 

 three times as much gypsum to give the same effect as burned lime. 

 There are enormous deposits of this form of lime at Lake Boga, and 

 in other parts of the State, but railway freights are too high to allow 

 of its being used in places where its great value would be felt. 



There are almost unlimited deposits of limestone in the Northern, 

 North-eastern, Western, and Gippsland Districts, which, if properly 

 handled and distributed, would really be huge sources of national wealth. 

 The cost of quarrying and grinding the stone should not exceed 5s. 6d. 

 per ton, and if it could be obtained throughout the State at anything 

 like this price, there is no doubt that its value would soon become known, 

 -and what is now but idle wealth would be helping to increase our primary 

 production. » 



FARM TOTES FOR OCTOBER, 1919. 



STATE RESEARCH FARM, WERRIBEE. 



By H. C. Wilson, Manager. 



The Season. — ^The end of the present month brings us to the brink 

 of harvest, and the crops throughout the district are light. 



The dry winter and spring experienced this year has shown very 

 clearly the great necessity for carefully fallowing the land as a prepara- 

 tion for hay or grain crops. During the month 140 points of rain have 

 been recorded, 90 points of which fell on 21st and 22nd October, and 

 this timely fall insured the season's harvest. 



It is estimated that from 25 to 30 cwt. per acre will be cut from 300 

 .acres of wheat and oats sown for hay on fallow. 



