244 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
quantities, or damage to crops may result. It is interesting to note 
in this connexion that 10 tons of lime to an acre will only raise the 
quantity in the top nine inches by i per cent. It has been explained 
that lime is wanted as a base, and for this purpose free lime is essential, 
The idea, therefore, that lime is being added to the soil when super- 
phosphate, bones, or gypsum are applied is a fallacy that cannot be 
too strongly refuted. It is true that these compounds contain lime 
in combination, but they are either acid or neutral, and the lime they 
contain is consequently useless. There is another popular idea that 
requires explanation, if not contradiction, and that is that lime exhausts 
the soil ; it is this belief to which expression is given in the old saw, 
" Lime and lime without manure will make both land and farmer 
poor." The underlying truth in this old saying will be apparent to 
the reader ; it is simply that lime is not in itself a manure, i.e. it does 
not contain the food materials necessary for the plant ; it merely renders 
available those already in the soil, and enables the plant to feed on 
them. It is to the cultivator's advantage that these dormant and 
therefore useless materials should be turned to account ; otherwise 
they represent locked-up capital ; but having liberated them by the 
use of lime, it is the cultivator's fault if he does not replenish this 
capital by further applications of manure. 
It is obvious that the more intensive the cultivation, and the 
heavier the manuring, the more important does liming become. 
One last use of lime must be mentioned, viz. its value as a fungicide 
and insecticide. Mention has already been made of finely powdered 
slaked lime for spraying purposes ; it is also an important ingredient 
of such fungicides as Bordeaux and Burgundy mixtures, and is 
invaluable for powdering on the soil for the destruction of slugs &c. 
For the latter purpose the caustic lime must be used, as its function is 
to burn the slug, and in this connexion it is important to note that 
two successive dressings must be used and should closely follow one 
another, as the slug has the power of exuding a slime which enables 
him to escape from the first powdering his body receives ; a second 
performance of this manoeuvre, in a short space of time, is beyond his 
powers. 
It will be seen therefore that the uses of lime are manifold and 
the benefits to be derived from its application great. It is no 
exaggeration to say that the productivity of most of the farms and 
practically all the gardens of this country would be greatly increased 
if sufficient attention were paid to this subject. Not only would the 
soils work better but the crops would be improved both in quantity 
and quality at a cost quite out of proportion to the value of the 
result obtained. 
It is therefore a matter of national importance that all cultivators 
of the soil should apply one of the simple tests given above and if a 
deficiency of lime is apparent at once take steps to remedy the 
defect. 
