RIGHT USE OF LIME IN SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



burning and hydrating lime where the 

 purity of the stone would not afford a good 

 advertisement in itself. 



On the other hand, we find very little 

 hydrated lime on the market that has not 

 had sufficient exposure to the air to become 

 changed in some part to an air-slaked con- 

 dition, or has had refuse mixed with it. 

 Air-slaked lime is not worth as much per 

 ton as the hydrate because it cannot correct 

 as much soil acidity, and the percentage of 

 the former cannot be determined by the 

 buyer. Its presence may not be due to any 

 wrong-doing of the manufacturer, and, on 

 the other hand, the increase in weight that 

 attends air-slaking may be welcomed in 

 some degree by a dishonest manufacturer 

 before the goods are shipped. The diffi- 

 culty in preventing hydrated lime from 

 adding to its weight by becoming air-slaked 

 is a point to be taken into consideration. 



The percentages of air-slaked material in 

 hydrated limes are widely variable, and no 

 manufacturer can standardize his product 

 on the market surely for the benefit of the 

 farmer. In some instances the product is 

 adulterated with refuse material in finely 

 pulverized condition. 



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