636 Joitnial of Agriculture, Victoria. [70 Oct.. 191:;. 



other hand its solubility is much greater than that of the carbonate (166 

 times) ; its dissemination throughout the soil is therefore niore rapid, every 

 shower carrying a certain quantity further into the subsoil. As a source 

 of lime, where this element is deficient, as a potash liberator and as a 

 soil improver, its efficiency is unquestionable. Its successful use in the 

 latter connexion, at St. Leonard's yineyard, has already been mentioned, 

 (iypsum is very highly thought of in France, where it enters into all the 

 most popular vine manure formulas. \\'ere it not for its high cost, per- 

 haps even in spite of it, it would seem to merit further trial in our vine- 

 yards. Possibly a mixture of lime and gypsum, the former on account 

 of alkalinity and cheapness, and the latter owing to its greater solubility, 

 may prove the most suitable form for vineyard use 



Practical Results. 



It is to be regretted that experiments to practically test the influrnce 

 of lime as a means of increasing yield have not yet been carried out ; 

 at least, not on a sufficient scale to give definite information. It is true 

 that in some experiments conducted by the writer both lime and gvpsum 

 have been applied in conjunction with otherwise complete manures. In 

 a general wav the plots receiving either of these substances have yielded 

 better crops than those to which complete manure- without lime in any 

 quantity were applied. Owing to the unevenness of the plots and their 

 small number, the information, so far, is less definite than one could 

 wish. Nor have the experiments been in force for a sufficient time. In 

 vineyard manuring results are not so immediate as in the case of an 

 annual crop. 



Reference must be here made to the numerous practical growers who, 

 as the result of their past experience of Ume application, are quite con- 

 vinced on the subject, and have become strong advocates of the practice. 



Further experiments, in order to practically test the application of 

 lime in its different forms, are to be shortly undertaken. It is con- 

 fidently expected that the results will confirm the theoretical considerations 

 outlined above, and that they will be in complete accordance with the 

 experience of tho.se progressive growers who already applied lime exten- 

 sivelv to their vinevards. 



VIII. 



LIME FOR TOBACCO LAND. 



By Temple A. J. Smith. 



The \-alue of lime for soils in which tobacco is produced has not yet 

 been sufficiently recognised by growers in Victoria. Most of the land used 

 for this purpose has been shown by analysis to be deficient in lime, and 

 even where the land is known to have a fair percentage, applications, 

 especially in some new form, have advantageous results. 



