INSPECTION OF AGRICULTURAL LIME PRODUCTS 

 FOR THE SEASON OF 1932. 



By H. D. Haskins, Official Ghemist.i 



Manufacturers and Brands. 



During 1932, twenty-two firms registered for sale in Massachusetts thirty- 

 six brands of agricultural lime and two of gypsum or land plaster. The products 

 are grouped as follows: 



Hydrated or slaked lime 17 



Ground limestone 17 



Lime kiln ashes 1 



Oyster shell lime 1 



36 

 Gypsum 2 



With the exception of two brands of hydrated lime registered by the Eastern 

 States Farmers' Exchange, and one of lime kiln ashes registered by H. D. 

 Brewer, all of the brands registered were sampled and analyzed. The samples 

 were drawn largely during the spring months from every section of the state 

 by the same sampling agents who drew the fertilizer samples for the inspection 

 of that commodity. A total of 71 samples was drawn from stock found in the 

 possession of 65 agents or owners. 



Variations and Deficiencies in the Composition of Lime Products. 



In the hydrated lime products. Table I, only one serious deficiency was noted. 

 The Allyndale Burned Lime, manufactured by Allyn and Allyn, East Canaan, 

 Ct., showed a deficiency of 10.6 per cent of calcium oxide and 2.55 per cent of 

 magnesium oxide. Four other brands showed small deficiencies either in mag- 

 nesium or calcium, but these were more than made up by overruns in the other 

 ingredient, so that no commercial shortage was noted. 



In Table II, Fine Ground Limestone, only two small deficiencies were noted 

 and both were found on the same brand put out by Hazen Brothers. 



The efficiency of some of the brands in this group could be materially im- 

 proved by finer grinding. Between 70 and 80 per cent passing through a 100- 

 mesh sieve shows a satisfactory degree of fineness, and it should be the endeavor 

 of all producers to achieve this tentative standard. 



No deficiencies were found in the gypsum products. 



Purchase of Lime Products 



The principal factors which determine the most economical purchase of lime 

 are: composition of product, effective oxides (calcium oxide equivalent) in 

 one ton of lime, cost of lime at plant, freight charges to destination, hauling 

 cost from K. R. station to farm, and, in case of limestone, the mechanical 

 fineness. As regards the choice between hydrated lime and fine ground lime- 

 stone, if the limestone is ground so that 100 per cent will pass an 80-mesh sieve 

 and is used in amounts to furnish the same quantity of calcium oxide equivalent 

 as the hydrated product, it will usually be found to be quite as effective. 



lAssisted by H. Robert DeRose, Albert F. Spelman, J. W. Kuzmeski, Chemists: James T. 

 Howard, C. L. Whiting, A. G. Brigham and G. E. Taylor, Sampling Agents; Harry L. Allen 

 Laboratory Assistant. 



