loOcT.. 1912.] 1' he Practice of l.'nu'mg. Oiy 



indicators descrited above all have their limitations, but to the experienced 

 worker they are of service as rough guides in feeling the pulse of the land 

 with r<'sp('ct to the nt'ed of lime. 



5.- -Experiments with Lime. 



Bv far the most satisfactory and practical method of testing the land 

 is by the establishment of experimental plots with varying dressings of 

 lime. By this means every farmer can test the requirements of the soils 

 on his farm. In order that the information gained should be of value, 

 it is absolutely necessary to conduct the experiments over a length v period. 

 Indeed, the most satisfactory results can onlv be obtained when the plots 

 are permant-nt in character, so that the effects of ea-^h particular dres.sing 

 can be noted. Tlu' full effects of lime are never immediately discernible. 

 Time must be a I lowed for the beneficial changes to be wrought. 



Experiments were laid down last autumn at Rutherglen, Wyuna, and 

 on private farms in the Western district. Central district, and in Gipps- 



LIMING LAND. 



land, to test the value of lime under var\ ing conditions. The experiments 

 were designed to' seek deliniie information on the followiiig points: — 



(a) The value of dressings of lime var\ing from 5 cwt. up to 2 tons 

 per acre when applied to lucerne, barley, wheat, and rape 

 crops, in order to determine the effect of lime, and the most 

 suitable amounts to appiv for legumes, cereals, and nan- 

 leguminous forages. 



(h) The periodicity of application that will lead to the most profit- 

 able results. 



(c) The value of lime when used in varying (juantities with and 



without phosphates, iiitrales, and potash, singly and in com- 

 bination. 



(d) The effect of lime when used with and without green manures. 

 (i ) The eff'ect of lime when used in various two, three, four, and 



rive course rotations. 

 (/) The relative merits of equivalent forms of lime when applied 

 in the form of quicklime, carbonate of lime, and gypsum, to 

 different crops and different soils, with and without supple- 

 mentary dressings of phosphates and organic matter. 

 1-231."). " X 



