2 



sometimes follows the feeding - of what is otherwise a properly 

 balanced ration. 



The Function of Lime in the Plcuit. — The role which lime 

 plays in plant life is not very well understood. It is usually 

 absent from young- tissues, and is found for the most part 

 in the walls of adult cells, where it is present in organic 

 combination. It may also be present as a by-product as 

 crystals of oxalate of lime deposited in the cells. The 

 higher plants cannot develop normally without lime, and for 

 this reason it is regarded as being necessary for plant life. 



Function of Lime in the Animal. — Lime forms an essential 

 part in the bones of animals and it is abundant in milk. More 

 than 2% of the live weight of a full grown, well fed steer is 

 lime. Cows' milk contains more lime than does lime water, 1 

 generally in excess of 0.15%. Lime constitutes about 20% of 

 the ash of milk, and generally more than 1.5% of the total 

 solids. 



A lack of lime in food will result in improper bone develop- 

 ment in the growing animal. This impaired development of 

 the bony skeleton will of course react on the general growth 

 of the animal, and the purpose for which the animal is fed, 

 whether it be the production of beef or milk or of work, will 

 not be attained. In extreme cases a diseased condition of the 

 body may result. 



Sources of Lime. — Lime enters the animal body both in food 

 and drink. All flowering plants contain some lime, as do all 

 natural waters. Surface waters, however, in Hawaii, except 

 in coral formations, contain but small amounts of lime or 

 other mineral ingredients. Whether lime in the form of pure- 

 ly mineral salts such as carbonate or sulphate present in water, 

 is as good a source of lime for the animal as the organic com- 

 bination present in plants, is not known. In fact the whole 

 question of the needs of animals for mineral food stuffs has 

 been neglected, and published analyses for the most part, give 

 the total ash without any consideration of its composition. 



Lime Varies in Foods. — The variation in the lime content 



1 Lime water is a saturated solution of lime in water. At 80° F. such 

 a solution will contain about 0.09% lime. 



