ACTION OF LIME AS A MANURE. 
11 
have observed that the insufficient nitrogen supply to the 
plants in overlimed soils is associated with this action so 
far as the ready formed ammonia is prevented from being 
absorbed and retained in the soil by the presence of much 
lime, and is therefore liable to be washed away by the irriga¬ 
tion, before it can be taken up by the roots. This opinion is 
founded on some researches made, under my control, likewise 
by Mr. S. Shinjo. 
That lime accelerates the decay of organic materials in dry 
land, is a fact long since known in European countries, as 
is indicated by the epithet “ hungry ” applied to calcareous 
soils because of the rapid destruction of humus producing 
manures in them. With reference to soils kept under water 
for several months during the summer and retaining much 
moisture also in the winter, as is the case with paddy soils, since 
no observations or researches have as yet been recorded, we 
felt constrained to investigate this subject. To clear up the 
question, we did not confine our work to paddy soil alone, but 
made comparative trials on the action of caustic lime on the 
decomposition of organic matter in both dry and paddy soils, 
proceeding in the following way : 
Several kilograms of dry and paddy earth from the fields 
of the college were dried in the air, sifted and mixed, separately 
for each trial, with a certain proportion of finely powdered soy 
beans. The soils and beans had the following composition in 
the air-dry state : 
Dry land 
soil. 
Paddy 
soil. 
Soy beans. 
Moisture. 
• 31.18 % 
37 - 10 % 
9.05 % 
Mineral matter 
• 5 2 - 62 >> 
45.62 „ 
4.46 ,, 
Organic matter and 
combined water .. 
. i6.20 „ 
17.28 ,, 
86.59 ,, 
In several of the trials slaked lime was applied which had 
been freshly prepared from calcium oxide made from marble, 
and which contained 81.93% calcium hydrate (Ca 0 2 H 2 ) 
