294 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



up of so much grass land and the extension of corn-growing, this need 

 has been much emphasized. It is well, therefore, to see to it that the 

 lime purchased is of good quality, for it costs just as much to bring 

 bad material as good from a distance. Unfortunately, lime is not 

 one of the articles included under the Fertilizers &c. Act, and hence 

 there is not the obligation on the vendor to sell lime with a guarantee. 



The purchaser, however, will do well not to buy unless he has a 

 guarantee given him, and cases are not infrequent in which an inferior 

 lime has been purchased. Such was the following : — 



per cent. 



Oxide of iron and alumina .... 1-39 



Lime ........ 58*44 



Silica 3-37 



Alkalis, magnesia, &c. . . . . . 1-32 



Water and carbonic acid . . . . 35*48 



ioo-oo 



This, though originally it may have been quite a good lime, having 

 no great quantity of oxide of iron, silica, or magnesia, had become — 

 probably by exposure — largely hydrated, and only showed 58-44 per 

 cent, of lime (CaO) ; whereas a fresh, well-burnt sample would give 

 quite 80 per cent. The sample in question was of Old Radnor (Here- 

 fordshire) lime. 



The second sample sent for liming purposes was one of siftings 

 from ground oyster shells, and gave the following analysis : — 



per cent. 



Moisture ....... 2-23 



♦Organic matter . . . . . . 2-03 



Oxide of iron and alumina . . . . -51 



**Lime ........ 47-66 



Phosphoric acid . . . . . . -38 



Alkalis, carbonic acid &c. .... 39-60 



Silica ........ 7-59 



ioo-oo 



♦Containing nitrogen . . . . . • -27 

 equal to ammonia . . . . . -33 

 ♦Equal to carbonate of lime . . . . 85-11 



This was quite good for the purpose, but, being charged at £5 a 

 ton, was far too dear, when compared with lime or even ordinary 

 chalk. 



3. Spice. — One sample of feeding material was sent me. This 

 was a " Poultry Spice," and I found it to have, as its base, oat-husk 

 finely ground, salt, fenugreek and other condiments, and also a certain 

 amount of ferrous carbonate. 



4. Powders for killing wireworm &c. — Two such were sent me ; 

 the one proved to be simply crushed mustard seed, which was very 

 pungent ; the other was a product containing naphthalene, crude 

 tar bodies, &c, absorbed in brick-dust and earth. 



5. Suction-gas waste. — A sample was sent me in order to see if 



