OO OO Ee 
1 Ocr., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 235 
harvester simply because it does not save the chaff. This machine has been 
perfected by many years of application on the part of clever inventors, and has 
come into use through the enterprise of manufacturers who have cheapened 
production greatly by introducing machines and implements most suitable to 
Australian agricultural conditions. In some respects it does better work than 
the stripper, because it makes a more reliable sample than is turned out by the 
class of labourer who turns a winnower handle for a minimum wage fixed by a 
paternal Government. Moreover, it provides the cheapest harvesting process 
that has come into general use in these States, and must, therefore, be regarded 
as a powerful agent in reducing the cost of producing wheat. In this State, 
where the Government, by entering into competition with the private employer 
of labour, has attracted all reliable labour from the farms, the farmers are 
absolutely driven by circumstances to adopt such machines as the harvester. 
Therefore, if the harvester continued to waste the cocky chaff it is certain that 
it would still pay to use the machine. But there is no necessity to continue 
wasting the chaff. Already chaff carriers have been tried, and with some 
measure of success. There is, however, room for great improvement, and now 
that the matter is compelling attention we may expect to see a very complete 
device attached to the harvester within a brief period. In addition to saving 
the chaff, the carrier would serve to prevent the spreading of ‘wild oats’ and 
other weeds about the wheat paddocks. In arranging further harvester trials 
it would be well if the promoters made provision to specially recognise the chaff 
carrier in the scale of points, and thus stimulate the inventive genius of the 
manufacturers.” 
LIME AS A SOIL IMPROVER. 
By G. B. BROOKS, Manager, State Farm, Biggenden. 
_ The failure of a soil to give remunerative returns may be due to various 
causes, such as absence of soluble plant food, improper cultivation, or the 
unfavourable mechanical texture. The latter condition is a very important 
one, for, although the soil may be rich in plant constituents, it is nevertheless 
imperative that, in order to secure the best resul{s, it must be brought into a 
state most favourable for the crop to be grown. This means that the 
mechanical condition must be such as to allow the plant roots to ramify 
unhindered through every inch of soil in their search after food. 
There are many soils, especially those of a sticky, clayey nature, which it 
is not always an easy matter to get into such a condition. Ina dry time they 
get hard, something after the consistency of a brick, and are very liable to 
crack, In wet weather they get bogey, and often remain in this condition for 
some considerable time. When in this state, to cultivate or even keep down 
the weeds is no easy matter, consequently they stand at a great disadvantage 
compared with soils of a more friable nature. Another feature of many soils 
is that they are of a cold, sour nature, and, unless thoroughly cultivated and 
exposed to the sweetening influence of the atmosphere, for some considerable 
time poor returns are sure to result. 
In the older countries, when dealing with refractory soils, farmers often 
find it advantageous to bring to their assistance what may be termed special 
soil improvers. Of these there are two that stand out pre-eminent—viz., farm- 
yard manure and lime. Both have their special uses and advantages, but it is 
to the part the latter plays in relation to soil fertility that I would specially 
raw attention. 
The practice of using lime in connection with agriculture is a very old one, 
but I believe that in Queensland the benefits derived from liming are yet but 
dimly recognised and the practice seldom adopted. ‘The scientitic name for lime,is 
calcium. The usual way to obtain lime is to burn limestone (which is carbonate 
of lime) for about two days in wide-mouthed kilns. The heat expels water and 
carbonic acid from the limestone, converting it into calcium oxide, or, as it is 
