RIGHT USE OF LIME IN SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



Comparing lump lime with finely pul- 

 verized limestone, the factors of expense 

 and discomfort and final lack of perfect dis- 

 tribution of the former remain important. 

 The stone is relatively easy to handle, being 

 slightly granular and passing through a 

 distributor without trouble. The fact that 

 it is not caustic, like the hydrated, is in its 

 favor. When everything is taken into 

 account, one is justified in using limestone 

 or air-slaked lime at a cost per ton three- 

 fourths as great as that of lump lime. It is 

 to be borne in mind that in these estimates 

 the cost per ton is not that at the factory or 

 at one's own railway station, but on the 

 farm. The freight and cartage to the farm 

 are based on weight of material, and more 

 material per acre is required when the 

 worthless portion has not been driven off by 

 burning. If one must use one and three- 

 quarters tons of limestone to have the 

 equivalent of one ton of fresh burned lime, 

 it is evident that the cost of freight and 

 cartage of the worthless portion might 

 make cost prohibitive if distances were very 

 great Farms lying a long distance from a 

 railway station may easily find that fresh 

 burned lime is the only form of lime they 



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