1 June, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 495 
Answers to Correspondents. 
LIME IN AGRICULTURE. 
T.L., Shannon Vale, Mosman River— 
Question 1.—Is lime of itself a manure ? 
Answer 1.—There are different opinions on this point. Some maintain 
that lime is a direct manure, but all evidence goes to show that lime 
is no substitute for manure; it is a mere addition or reinforcement 
which may occasionally be employed with advantage. The benefit 
derived from an application of lime is due more to its chemical and 
physical action on the soil than merely an increase of lime available 
as plant-food. It is nota direct manure, but it promotes a rapid 
decomposition of the organic matter in the soil, and causes its 
nitrogen to be converted into nitrates, and this is the form in which 
nitrogen is best assimilated by plants. 
Question 2.—How should it be applied—slaked or unslaked ? 
Answer 2.—The favourite way of applying it is as quicklime, buried in 
shallow holes in the soil, or placed in little heaps on the surface, 
and covered with earth. The lime in either case soon slakes and 
falls to a fine powder, which is then spread on the land. 
Question 3.—How much would you apply per acre to the following 
descriptions of soil :—Sandy soil, light loam, heavy loam, clay, and 
stiff clay P 
Answer 3.—Poor sandy soils are unfit for liming, because the lime in such 
soils would render the little plant-food in them available, and would 
rapidly exhaust them. Still lime, if moderately applied, will make 
a sandy soil more tenacious. Quicklime should not be used on 
light loams. It is too exhaustive, and very little slow-acting 
carbonate of lime should be used on them. Lime will make a 
heavy loam more retentive. On such soils (loams) half-a-ton is a 
fair quantity for an acre of loamy soil possessing a moderate degree 
of fertility. For clay and heavy clay soils, lime should be applied 
every six or eight years in quantities not larger than 1 or 2 tons per 
acre. This is the most modern plan. 
Question 4.—Should lime be ploughed in or applied on the surface ? 
Answer 4.—Lime should only be ploughed in on swampy land. On 
others, when spread on the surface, incorporate it with the soil by 
means of a harrow, and harrow the land a second time after a few 
days. 
Question 5.—Is lime of the same benefit if applied to imperfectly 
drained land compared with drained land? Give your reason. 
Answer 5.—On some undrained soils lime is excellent for correcting the 
acidity. It will destroy plants that grow in swampy land. It is 
one of the most powerful agents in causing inert substances (where, 
owing to defective drainage, organic matter does not readily 
decompose) to yield an abundant and available a of plant- 
food. In this case the lime may be ploughed in. left on the 
surface it absorbs carbonic acid from the atmosphere and becomes 
gradually converted into carbonate of lime or chalk. Doubtless the 
use of lime on land damaged by seepage would be beneficial. 
