1 Jung, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 449 
_ different clays, and added to each ‘25, ‘5, and 2°5 per cent. of lime. He then 
hoted the time that 2 inches of water took to percolate through 2 inches of each 
_ of these mixtures. The results were as follow :— 
A, B. C. 
Clay... es ws ... 6days 12 days 26 days 
Clay + '25 per cent. lime 12 hours 10 ,, Sy 
(IS ATT gM apr Pan TU) ae RUN ye mI 
Clay + 2°50 oF ey bhai 3 Pyros 8 hours 7 hours 
In soils that have a tendency to puddle and set hard, this tendency is 
lessened by the use of lime. In this connection, lilgard’s experiment is most 
Convincing. He says that, if any clay soil be worked into a plastic mass with 
water and dried, the result will be amass of almost stony hardness, but on 
adding to some of the same paste no more than 4 per cent.-of caustic lime a 
diminution of plasticity will be obvious at once, even while the clay is wet, and 
| On drying, the mass will fall into a pile of crumbs at a mere touch. It is evident, 
then, that lime will render clay soils warmer, mellower, and of better tilth, and 
the effect of this lightening of heavy soils has been known to last for years. 
_ Lime may promote nitrification, but, on the other hand, under certain 
Cireumstances, especially if applied heavily, lime will arrest nitrification. 
arrington has shown that carbonate of lime is necessary to the effective 
| Working of nitrifying bacteria, and that good working will not take place with- 
Out it. Still, quicklime is injurious, and heavy liming would possibly arrest 
Uitrification till sufficient carbonic acid had been mpeerbeTl or till the organic 
acids had neutralised the lime, when conditions would again become favourable 
or the nitrifying germs to work. Warrington’s conclusions have further been 
Confirmed by the results of Heiden and Voigt. It is now generally recognised 
| that the addition of lime salts to the soil increases the power of that soil 
to retain potash, soda, &c., from solutions. The use of lime in preventing 
Certain fungoid diseases, such as “ finger and toe,” “rust,” “smut,” and also to 
| Prevent the ravages of slugs, &c., has been often noted. One exception 
ought, however, to be remembered—the potato scab fungus which affects 
Potatoes and beets. The action of lime seems to increase the activity of this 
stowth. 
The foregoing remarks show briefly the action of lime in altering the 
texture, increasing the permeability and power to retain certain plant foods in 
| Soils, preventing puddling, promoting nitrification, and liberating supplies of 
otash, &c., that may be locked up. While the action of lime on soils is as set 
orth, it might well be that injury would be done by its application to a soil 
_ Containing small quantities only of clay, by decreasing the power of such to 
Tetain moisture. It will also be noted from the above that the liberation of 
| Potash, &c., presupposes the presence of these plant foods, though in an inert 
' 4nd not readily available state. The application, therefore, of lime alone will not 
| add these plant foods to the soil. Lime is no substitute for a manure, but will 
x plant foods that may be added, and reduce some of those already existing 
ee a an inert state to such a condition as to be readily available for plant 
_ stowth. 
BROOM CORN. 
_ Tue world’s consumption of broom corn, according to the best authorities, is: 
- about 30,000 tons, and there can be no sudden increase, because it is only used 
for one purpose. This 30,000 tons is produced on 112,000 acres. ‘Two-thirds of 
the broom corn of the world is grown in four counties of the State of Illinois, 
With Arcola as the most important shipping point. In favourable years these 
_ Counties have produced 28,000 tons, or practically the world’s supply. The 
_ territory and the men already engaged in broom-corn growing could easily double 
€ present production if warranted by the demand. ‘There appears, according to 
© Breeders’ Gazette, from which these notes are taken, to have been a sudden 
a 
