654 
Siq)plement  to  the  “ Tropical  AgricuUuriatT  [March  2,  1896. 
portaiice  of  “ liming” — as  the  ai)plication  of  lime 
is  generally  callei.l  - is  seklom  fully  recognised  by 
agriculturists.  If  the  reprouch  can  be  laid  to  the 
charge  of  Western  agriculture,  with  much  great 
force  can  this  be  done  in  the  case  of  Kasteru 
agriculture  where  the  benefits  of  liming  are  but 
dimly  recognised  and  the  practice  seldom  adopted. 
The  Scottish  Farmer,  taking  as  its  text  “ Use  more 
lime,”  summarizes  the  advantages  of  liming 
for  the  benefit  of  its  readers,  and  we  are  in- 
clined to  think  we  cannot  do  better  than  follow 
our  contemporary’s  example. 
Lime  is  valuable  as  a direct  plant  food.  Wherever 
soils  are  deficient  in  it,  the  application  of  even 
a limited  quantity  exerts  a decided  effect  on 
vegetation.  Its  influence  in  hastening  the  decay 
of  organic  matter  in  the  soil  is  of  great  value 
where  that  constituent  is  iilontiful.  Similarly, 
its  action  in  liberating  inorganic  plant  food,  and 
making  it  readily  available,  is  one  of  tiie  most 
valuable  benefits  which  it  confers.  Its  indirect 
advantages  in  these  ways  are  strong  recommenda- 
tions in  its  favour.  The  improvement  which  it 
brings  about  in  the  mechanical  condition  of  the 
gQil—especially  heavy  loams  and  stiff  clays— ought 
not  to  be  overlooked.  But  what  we  regard  as  one 
of  its  greatest  advantages  is  apt  to  be  either  ig- 
nored altogether  or  made  comparativt  ly  little  of  ; 
we  refer  to  its  effect  in  sweetening  soils  and 
making  them  mellow  by  combining  with  or 
neutralising  such  injurious  acids  in  the  laud  as 
have  made'it  sour.  No  other  fertiliser  e.xerts  the 
same  kind  or  degree  of  influence  in  this  resj)ectas 
lime.  In  fact,  the  extensive  and  repeated  applica- 
tion of  some  classes  of  artificial  manures  has  helped 
to  generate  these  objectionable  acicL  in  the  soil, 
and  to  that  extent  has  checked  its  fertility.  Such 
being  the  case,  there  is  the  greater  reason  why  such 
an  a”ent  as  lime  should  be  used  to  neutrali'e  these. 
Plain  practical  men  may  be  unable  to  understand 
the  scientific  side  of  this  truth ; but  everyone 
who  has  observed  at  all  closely  the  application  of 
lime  to  land  cannot  but  have  noticed  its  practical 
operation,  not  only  in  its  striking  effect  in  stimulat- 
iim  luxuriant  growth,  but  also  in  the  more  healthy 
clmracter  of  the  vegetation  promoted  by  it.  For  a. 
series  of  years  after  a judicious  applic.ition  of  lime 
has  been  made  to  land  it  is  apparent,  even  to  the 
most  superficial  observer,  that  the  plants  at  every 
stage  of  the  rotation  show  a more  healthy  and 
vfc'orous  life  than  on  most  land  where  that 
fertiliser  has  not  been  used.  This  is  not  simply 
that  a more  plentiful  supply  of  plant  food  has  in- 
directly, as  well  as  directly,  been  made  available, 
but  that  the  general  condition  of  the  land  has  been 
improved  by  its  being  freed  from  sourness  and 
other  kindred  objectionable  elements  which  mili- 
tate against  the  healthy  growth  of  farm  crops. 
To  the  value  of  lime  in  bringing  about  such  results 
we  attach  much  importance. 
The.  Agriculturist  of  Florida  for  .January  8th, 
also  dilates  upon  lime  “ as  a fertiliser  and  in- 
secticide,” and  states  that  the  purposes  served  by 
lime  as  a chemical  constituent  of  the  soil  are  at 
least  of  four  distinct  kinds  : — 
“ 1 It  supplies  a kind  of  inorganic  food  which 
appears  to  be  necessary  to  the  healthy  growth  of 
all  cultivated  plants. 
<<  0 It  neutralizes  acid  substances  which  are 
atiu-'ally  formed  in  the  soil,  and  decomposes  or 
renders  'harmless  other  uo.xious  compounds  which 
are  not  infrequently  within  reach  of  the  roots  of 
plants. 
“ 3.  It  changes  the  inert  vegetable  matter  in 
tlie  soil,  so  as  gradually  to  render  it  useful  to  vege- 
tation. 
“ 4.  It  causes,  facilitates,  or  enables  other 
useful  compounds,  both  organic  and  inorganic, 
to  be  produced  in  the  soil — or  so  promotes  the 
decomposition  of  existing  compounds  as  to  prepare 
them  more  speedily  for  entering  into  the  circula- 
tion of  plants.” 
From  these  deductions  it  is  plainly  apparent 
that  liming  lands  is  recpiisite  to  greater  success  in 
cropping,  whether  newly  cleared,  fallow,  or  fields 
in  actual  cultivation.  If  no  other  result  t hau  the 
destruction  of  worms  and  insects  in  the  soil  we,re 
obtained,  it  would  be  a paying  investment  fur  truck 
gardeners  alone. 
This  paper  recommends  that  on  high  sandy  soil 
30  to  .50  bushels  of  freshly— slaked  lime  is  con- 
sidered sufficient,  but  on  such  lands  as  are  rich  in 
vegetable  matter,  it  must  be  still  more  abundantly 
applied-from  two  to  three  hundred  bushels  per 
acre : its  application  producing  the  best  results 
when  sown  broadcast  over  the  surface  after  the 
land  has  been  worked  up. 
Til  13  MANAGEMENT  OF  DAIRY  CATTLE. 
By  Mr.  James  AIollison, 
Superintendent  of  Farms,  Bombay  Presidency. 
( Continued  from  last  issue.) 
If  reared  by  hand,  Indian  calves,  wliich  are 
generally  small,  can  be  kept  in  fairly  thriving 
condition  on  4 lbs.  of  whole  milk  per  day,  given  at 
two  meals.  Tliis,  if  continued,  for  4 or  6 weeks, 
will  bring  the  calf  to  a time  when  it  can  be  fed 
on  other  food.  Tlie  whole  milk  can  be  replaced 
by  separated  milk,  but  every  cow-owner  cannot 
procure  separated  milk,  and  on  account  of  the  heat 
in  India  there  is  no  such  thiuR  as  sweet  skim-milk. 
The  young  calf  will  soon  learn  to  eat  a little 
chuni  (lm.sk  of  Oajanus  indicus  or  dhal)  and  bran, 
also  a little  good  hay  or  green  grass. 
A handful  of  mixed  chuni  and  bran  (about  4 lb. 
per  day)  in  two  meals  is  all  that  is  required  at 
first.  The  quantitj"  may  gradually  be  increased 
until,  when  8 months  old,  14  lbs.  p«r  day  should 
be  allowed.  On  the  ordinary  milk  ration  of 
Indian  calves,  largo  framed  English  calves  would 
literally  starve.  When  a calf  is  raised  by  hand  it 
has  to  be  tauglit  to  drink.  Its  instinct  is  to  suckle 
and  this  is  taken  advantage  of  in  giving  the  first 
lesson,  If  sufficient  time  after  birth  is  allowed, 
the  calf  gets  hungry.  It  will  suck  one  or  two 
fingers  of  the  right  hand  if  introduced  into  its 
mouth.  If  at  the  same  time  the  head  is  forced 
gently  into  a vessel  containing  the  milk  so  that  the 
muzzle  just  reaches  the  milk,  the  calf  will  soon 
learn  to  driidv.  Tlie  first  milk  is  drawn  into  tho 
mouth  unconsciously  and  swallowed  in  tho  act  of 
sucking  tho  lingers.  Tho  important  jmints  to  be 
attended  to  in  rearing  hand-fed  calves  are  that  the 
milk  and  food  should  be  clean  and  fresh  and  of 
course  given  iti  a clean  ve.ssel.  Sour  milk  or  milk 
tainted  in  any  way  is  apt  to  produce  diarrlnea  or 
scour.  Well-ventilated  and  well-drained  accom- 
modation for  calves  is  necessary.  All  excreta 
should  be  removed  at  least  twice  a day.  The 
droppings  from  oalves,  fed  on  milk,  sooza  acc^uire 
