295 
Compounds of Lime : — It must be remembered that the benefits to 
be derived from liming so called are almost entirely dependant on 
its value as a base and not because of the calcium it contains as a 
direct plant food, so that it must be applied in one of the following 
forms: — quicklime, slaked lime, or chalk (or other forms of the 
carbonate such as limestoqeh 
Whether applied as quicklime or slaked lime, which are both 
oxides of calcium or “lime” it is converted eventually into carbonate 
by the carbonic acid present in the atmosphere or the soil. 
The application of lime in the form of chalk (a soft limestone) so 
common in many parts of England, is probable known to most plant- 
ers in this country. There are, however, no deposits of this nature in 
the Malayan peninsula. It is preferable, however, to apply lime in 
the form of quicklime or slaked lime rather than as chalk or lime- 
stone as, although eventually the 1 me is carbonated in the soil, the 
particles of quicklime or slaked lime are much finer than either chalk 
or limestone can be reduced to by grinding and are thus more readily 
incorporated in, and absorbed by the soil. 
Methods of application. 
If quicklime is employed as a dressing it should first be heaped 
and slaked with water and allowed to fall to a dry powder — “Slaked 
lime,” as if quicklime is spread broadcast over the soil it tends to 
form lumps and is not easily converted to a powder. 
If “Slaked lime” is used, it can be immediately spread over the 
surface of the soil. 
“ Ground lime ” which in the end is more economical cannot be 
obtained in this country (unless perhaps at the Marble works at Ipoh, 
Perak, F.M.S.) 
With trees under two years old, the preferable method would be 
to dig shallow circular trenches with a radius of about two feet round 
each tree, and apply to each tree individually. 
On older clearings where the roots of trees interlace it would be 
more economical and equally effective to broadcast the lime, and fork 
over the whole surface of the area treated. 
An application of at least 5 cwt. per acre should be used, or four 
times the quantity on peat soils and on heavy clay soils. A second 
application of 5 cwt. might be applied in the subsequent year. 
General Remarks : — It should be borne in mind that all manurial 
treatment of this kind should be carefully checked in order to ascer- 
tain whether the effects produced are sufficient to warrant the expense 
incurred. 
It is useless, as some planters and even some supposed trained 
investigators do, to carry out field experiments of this kind or any 
other, without checking the effects on a sufficiently large area. At 
