TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M, 669 
former possesses the essential properties of a mild antiseptic, and if applied in 
sufficient quantity is capable of giving rise to the usual phenomena of partial 
sterilisation. When this point has been reached there occurs an initial decrease 
in the numbers of bacteria, followed by large increases, the larger forms of 
soil protozoa are killed, and there is a cessation or limitation of nitrate formation. 
The form of available nitrogen in such soils is largely that of ammonia, which 
leads to increased nitrogen content of plants growing in such soils. 
Both above and below the partial sterilisation point the return of nitrogen 
as ammonia and nitrate within the first year is directly proportional to the amount 
of caustic lime applied, and if not assimilated by the crop is liable to loss by 
leaching before the following crop appears. This is advanced as an explanation 
of the unfavourable results sometimes observed in practice after heavy applica- 
tions of caustic lime. Lime in this form and about the partial sterilisation limit 
may be used for the suppression of insect pests in the soil. In common with 
chalk or limestone it also serves to correct an unfavourable reaction of the soil, 
thus ensuring more vigorous bacterial and plant growth. 
Three new methods have been worked out to ensure better control of the use 
of lime in field practice : (a) the determination of soil carbonates; (b) the deter- 
mination of the amount of caustic lime necessary to induce partial sterilisation, 
and to indicate the limit to which this form of lime can be applied without 
adversely affecting the following crop; and (c) the estimation of the lime require- 
ments of soils for purposes of neutralisation, whether by means of caustic lime 
or carbonate. 
While the estimation of soil carbonates may provide useful information in 
some cases, the authors wish to lay especial emphasis on the desirability of 
determining the lime requirements of the soil, since a soil may contain only 
traces of carbonate and still not be in need of lime applications. 
4. The Hstimation of Condition in Cattle. By J. A. Murray. 
In this paper it was argued : 
(1) That the verbal terms—fat, half fat, &c.—used to describe the condition 
of cattle are vague and indefinite. 
a That all the varying degrees of condition can be expressed only by numerical 
values. 
(3) That condition is measured by the ratio of live weight to size. 
(4) That the size may be determined by the usual measurements of length and 
girth. 
(5) That the girth must be that of the animal in store condition. Under any 
other circumstances some allowance must be made for the increase in girth due to 
fattening. 
(6) That the condition of typical store animals should be taken as 100, and that 
of others pro rata. 
The arguments are embodied in the formula :— 
424°4 M 
i{g- (My — 17) } 
C= 
where C is the condition, M the live weight (in pounds), and g the length and girth 
respectively (in inches). 
This formula is at present tentative, and is merely intended to show that the 
thesis is capable of practical application. The chief difficulty in the way of developing 
it is the unreliability of the accepted methods of measuring length. 
The paper was therefore mainly a plea for co-operation of cattle experts with a 
view to (1) agreement in regard to the methods of measurement, (2) accumulation 
of data relating to different types of animals. 
