December, 1912.] 



441 



LIME FOR TOBACCO LAND. 



Mr. Temple A. J, Smith, writing to the Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, 

 for October, 1912, says the value of lime for soils in which tobacco is 

 produced has not yet been sufficiently recognised by growers in Victoria. 

 Most of the land used for this purpose has been shown by analysis to be 

 deficient in lime, and even where the land is known to have a fair percen- 

 tage, applications especially in some new form, have advantageous results. 



The ash of the tobacco plant contains large proportionate amounts of 

 lime and potash, with a low percentage of phosphoric acid, as the 



following figures show, viz:— 



Nitrogen ... ... ... 4*12 



Potash ... ... ... 6'20 



Phosphoric acid ... ... *62 



Lime ... ... ... 5'50 



Magnesia ... ... ... 1'67 



Tobacco is evidently dependent on lime as a food, he states, and lor 

 that reason alone a supply should be provided where it is known a 

 deficiency exists. 



The Effect of Lime. 



The application of lime, apart from its value a? a food in itself, is of 

 even greater importance in legard to its effect in releasing and indirectly 

 supplying potash and nitrogen for the crop's benefit, Lime also assists 

 in supplying nitrogen indirectly, and at a greater rate, owing to its 

 influence on nitrification and the temperature of the soil is slightly 

 increased, an important matter in regard to tobacco. 



The mechanical effect of lime on the soil in relation to tobacco-growing 

 is especially valuable. All tobaccoes thrive best and are of better quality, 

 when produced from free and well aerated soils; consequently the 

 flocculating power of lime on those soils, liable to set closely, renders 

 them more open and f liable, bringing about the desired result. 



Its effect on the soils is highly beneficial in counteracting acidity, in 

 this way not only inducing a better growth of the crop but materially 

 influencing the curing processes and fermentation later on in the sheds, 

 this being due to the effect of the alkali supplied to the plant which, if 

 deficient in quantity, interferes with the development and action of the 

 enzyme, or ferment, through whose agency the cure and fermentation 

 of the leaf is perfected. 



The Different Forms of Lime- 



The different forms of liuae procurable have somewhat different effects 

 on tobacco soils. Where heavy swamp land or peaty soils are cultivated 

 the use of builders' lime, " burnt lime," will be found most advantageous. 

 The builders' lime applied at the rate of from 5 cwt. to 10 cwt. per acre in 

 the autumn will assist in decomposing the rough organic matter in the 

 shape of undecomposed roots, weeds, etc., and render the soil sweeter and 

 better fitted to produce good quality of leaf. On clay or silty soils the 

 burnt lime also is desirable as it improves the temperature in cold soils 

 and makes them more friable and open. On sandy loams gypsum 

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