THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



07 



Analysis of LimestonCm 



{Published 

 Commissioner op Agriculture,— 



I HAVE examined the sample of lime- 

 stone handed in by Mi*. Stanger-Higgs 

 for report, and find it contains a very fair 

 proportion of lime, viz : — 48*973 per cent, 

 equal to 87-451 of carbonate of lime. 

 An analysis showed the following per- 

 centages : — 



Silica ... ... ... 8-438 



Iron and Alumina ... 2 000 



Carbonate of Lime ... 87'276 



Phosphate of Lime ■■ '013 



Sulphate of Lime ... '255 



Ca'bonate of Magnesia ... 1'503 



Manganese ... ... '065 



Moisture, &c. ... ... '450 



lOO'OOO 



The limestone, I understand, is found 

 in large quantities in the dongas near 

 Washbank, antiguous to the coalfields, 

 and seams of coal, which can be opened 

 up on the land, where every facility is 

 offered for turning out a moderately priced 

 lime. Mr. Pearce, who is connected with 

 the enterprise, informs me that he expects 

 to be able to place the burned limestone 

 on the Railway at Waschbank, at from 

 30s. to 35s. per ton, and raw ground lime 

 at probably 10s. per ton less, prices which 

 compare most favourably with those at 

 present quoted on the Durban market, 

 viz., £3 to £4 per ton. 



The limestone, although not pure, con- 

 tains a very large percentage of lime, and 

 appears to me to be a very suitable one 

 for agricultural purposes, especially when 

 its low pric3 is taken into consideration. 

 There appears to be a large accumulation 

 or segregation of the stone, as I am 

 informed the quantity is more or less 

 unlimited. 



The owners, I believe, are prepared to 

 offer both burned and raw ground lime 

 as desired, and on the analysis proving 

 satisfactory to commence operations at an 

 early date, when I hope to" receive a 

 sample of their burned product to deter- 

 mine how far the process has affected its 

 value. 



by Order). 



The raw ground lime should be very 

 suitable for marling and for mild appli- 

 cations, most suited for light soils, but 

 the burned lime is likely to give a finer 

 distribution, and in most cases is prefer- 

 able, as its action is more energetic and 

 applicable to medium, heavy, clay or sour 

 soils. 



From an examination of the sample, I 

 am of opinion that the material is worth 

 handling, and will prove a most useful 

 article for agricultural purposes. 



The deficiency of lime is very marked 

 in most Natal soils, and there is great need 

 for a cheap lime to remedy the defect. In 

 almost any soil its addition is beneficial 

 to plant life, but in soils which are so 

 poorly supplied as ours, I am safe to say 

 that marked results must arise from its 

 judicious use. 



Alex, Pardy, F.C.S., etc. 



Analyst to Agricultural Department. 

 27th March 1901. 



A t a sheep-dressing exhibition held at Indian- 

 opolis, U.S , September 3rd, Charles J.Gardner, 

 of that city, broke the world's record by killing 

 and dressing 10 sheep in 30 minutes and 22 

 seconds, thus beating his own record of 10 sheep 

 killed and dressed, in 1898, within 32min. and 

 9sec In his latest performance Gardner was 

 somewhat handicapped by a severe accidental 

 cut upon the left arm. 



A correspondent of the Country Gentleman 

 strongly recommends sorghum hay as a stock 

 fodder. He states that on a small plot near his 

 place as much as nearly eight tons of sorghum 

 hay has been made per acre. In another instance 

 he states that forty head of cattle were fed on 

 the produce of a single acre for six weeks, and 

 this was in a season of r'rought. He strongly 

 recommends heavy seeding, and says that two 

 bushels of seed per acre give a fine hay, easily 

 handled, while one bushel of seed per acre will 

 give a much coarser hay that is difficult to 

 handle. The best crops are said to be grown 

 on rather thin land fertilised with superphos- 

 phate as for wheat. When grown on strong, 

 heavy soil the crop is very heavy, but is apt to 

 lodge, and is often difficult to cut. Sorghum 

 hay is seldom, if ever, seen in Australia, and as 

 it IS a heat-loving plant it might be advisable to 

 utilise this plant to provide a stand-by for stock 

 in times of scarcity. Cattle are said to be fond 

 of sorghum hay, and do well on it. 



