INSPECTION OF AGRICULTURAL LIME PRODUCTS 

 FOR THE SEASON OF 1934 



By H. D. Raskins, Official Chemist/ 



Manufacturers and Brands. 



During 1934, twenty-three firms registered for sale in Massachusetts forty-five 

 brands of lime products suitable for neutralizing acid soils and one brand of 

 gypsum or land plaster. The products are grouped as follows: 



Hydrated or slaked lime 23 



Ground limestone 20 



Oyster shell lime 1 



Lime kiln ashes 1 



45 

 Gypsum 1 



With the exception of two brands of hydrated lime, all of the lime products 

 registered have been analyzed and the results appear in this bulletin. 



Most of the samples were drawn between the dates of April 1 and June 15, 

 although several were secured during the early fall at seeding time and later 

 when land was being plowed for the 1935 onion crop at which time much land 

 is limed in the Connecticut Valley. The spring samples were taken by the 

 same inspectors who drew the fertilizer samples and were taken from all over the 

 state. We therefore believe that they are a fair representation of the lime products 

 used as soil amendments for 1934. Ninety-eight samples, representing 44 brands, 

 were drawn from stock in the possession of 85 agents or owners. 



Variations and Deficiencies in the Composition of Lime Products. 



In limestone products calcium is usually associated with more or less magne- 

 sium; when the latter element is present in only small amounts the product is 

 known as high calcium limestone; when the magnesium oxide runs to 20 per cent 

 or over it is usually designated as dolomite. Both of these elements when in the 

 form of either caustic or burned lime, hydrated or slaked lime, or carbonate 

 (ground limestone) have the property of neutralizing or reducing soil acidity, 

 the main purpose for which they are used as soil amendments. With this in 

 mind a study of Table I shows no serious deficiencies among the hydrated lime 

 products. It is true that several deficiencies are noted, yet they are of little 

 significance when viewed from the standpoint of the compensating neutralizing 

 value of the overrun of the companion element (magnesium oxide in case of 

 calcium oxide shortage and calcium oxide in case of magnesium oxide deficiency). 



The Snow Fluff Agricultural Hydrated Lime, manufactured by Brewer & 

 Co., Inc., showed a deficiency of 3.93 per cent of magnesium oxide as compared 

 with the guarantee. This was in part made up by an overrun of 2 per cent of 

 calcium oxide, leaving a magnesium oxide deficiency which in terms of calcium 

 oxide equivalent would amount to 3.46 per cent calcium oxide (3.93 x 1.39=5.46 — 

 2=3.46). This was the largest deficiency noted in this class of liming products. 



No serious deficiencies occurred in the ground limestone products listed in 



'Assisted by H. Robert DeRose, First Assistant ChemLst; James T. Howard, C. L. Whiting, 

 A. G. Brigham, and G. E. Taylor, Sampling Agents. 



