INSPECTION OF AGRICULTURAL LIME PRODUCTS 

 FOR THE SEASON OF 1930. 



By H. D. Haskins, Official Chemist, assisted by H. R. DeRose. 



Manufacturers and Brands. 



During 1930, eighteen firms registered for sale in Massachusetts twenty-five 

 brands of agricultural lime and one of gypsum or land plaster. The nature of 

 the products is shown below: 



Hydrated or slaked lime 10 



Ground limestone 12 



Lime kiln ashes 2 



Osyter shell lime 1 



25 

 Gypsum 1 



The representative samples which served for analysis were largely drawn 

 during April and May by the sampling agents employed to draw samples of 

 fertilizer. A few of the samples were obtained from the manufacturers through 

 correspondence. All of the products registered were analyzed. 



Variations and Deficiencies in the Composition of Lime Products. 



In Table I, devoted to hydrated limes and lime ashes, only one product, the 

 Adams Lime Kiln Ashes, sold by the Hoosac Valley Lime Co., Inc., was found 

 seriously deficient. This was 5.87 per cent below the guarantee in calcium a,nd 

 magnesiufn oxides, causing a commerical shortage of about 65 cents per ton. 

 The defiiciency was unquestionably due to the high content of water (24.56 

 per cent). It would not appear to be good economy to purchase lime ashes as 

 a soil amendment unless the product has been stored under cover to avoid the 

 absorption of excessive amounts of water. 



Some of the other products listed in this table were found deficient in mag- 

 nesium or calcium oxides, but showed no commercial deficiency, nor was their 

 effectiveness impaired, as the shortage was more than made up by an overrun 

 of the other element. 



In Table II, devoted to limes in form of carbonate (unburned), no serious 

 shortages were found: three of the products, however, would have been 

 materially improved by finer grinding. To be equally as effective as hydrated 

 or slaked lime, when used in amounts to furnish the same quantity of calcium 

 and magnesium oxides, limestone should be ground so that about 80 per cent 

 will pass a 100-mesh sieve. 



Tonnage of Lime Products Sold as Soil Amendments in 

 Massachusetts during 1930. 



Tons. 



Ground limestone 30,315 



Other forms (largely hydrated and air-slaked) 26,021 



Total 56,336 



