124 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



form of lime, together with the actual cost of quarrying, crushing or 

 burning, as the case may be. 



The following figures, as given by Mr. J. H. Barron in the Tribune 

 Farmer, show the relative cost of equivalent amounts of three forms of 

 lime applied to the land in southern New York. This will serve as a 

 method for any region. 



1 ton burnt lime at railroad station $4 . 00 



Hauling 1 .00 



Cost of applying 1 . 50 



Total cost per acre $6 . 50 



The high cost of applying is on account of having to slake the burnt 

 lime before it is applied, together with the difficulty in applying it in that 

 form. 



2640 pounds hydrated lime (equivalent to 1 ton burnt lime), 



at $7.00 per ton $9 . 24 



Hauling, at $1.00 per ton 1 . 32 



Applying, at 75 cents per ton 99 



Total cost per acre $11 . 55 



The increased cost per acre in using this form is due to the relatively 

 high first cost of hydrated lime and to the additional expense of hauling 

 650 pounds of water content in the hydrated lime. 



In case of ground limestone we have the following: 



3570 pounds ground limestone (equivalent to 1 ton burnt lime), 



at $4.00 per ton $7.14 



Hauling, at $1.00 per ton 1 . 78 



Applying, at 75 cents per ton 1 . 33 



Total cost per acre $10 . 25 



The above costs are probably considerably above the average for 

 most localities where lime is not too inaccessible. The relative cost of 

 ground limestone as compared with the burnt lime is also rather high. 



It is good business to purchase that form which supplies the greatest 

 amount of active lime for the amount of money involved, providing the 

 mechanical condition is satisfactory. In this connection it should be 

 borne in mind that no matter in what form lime is applied to the soil, it 

 soon reverts to its original form of carbonate of lime. The advantages 

 in using slaked burnt lime lie chiefly in the extreme fineness of subdivision 

 and the possibilities of more thorough distribution in the soil. 



Mixing with Manure and Fertilizers. — Caustic forms of lime should 

 not be mixed with either manure or fertilizers. Such forms in the presence 

 of nitrogenous materials cause a loss of nitrogen in the form of ammonia. 

 In the presence of soluble phosphates they cause a reversion to insoluble 

 forms. It is best, therefore, to apply lime in advance of applying fertil- 



