Kipps’lime-magnesia:An unconventional agricultural lime and a 48-year perspective within the aglime industry

摘要

Agricultural lime is an important soil supplement in pH control for optimal pasture and crop growth. Burnt lime has been the historic agricultural lime of choice, but between 1925 and 1973 Kipps’ Lime-Magnesia won a share of the lime market in Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties, Virginia. A comparison of production methods for the lime from Meyers Lime Kiln with Kipps’ Lime-Magnesia reveals an unconventional and economically competitive aglime. The Kipps Quarry is situated on the eastern flank of Little North Mountain in southwestern Shenandoah County, Virginia. Advertised as lime-magnesia and as marl, the raw material is the fault breccia of the North Mountain Fault. The magnesium- rich lime product was marketed as an agricultural lime from 1925 – 1973. Initial processing consisted only of hand screening when this unburnt lime product was introduced at $3.00 a ton in a locality where burnt lime was marketed at $6.00 a ton. Sales records from 1925 to 1972 reflect the influences of mechanization, economy, climate, World War II, and market competition. In 1972 the Kipps Family sold the business and property to C.S. Mundy Quarries, Inc., who continued operations until the untimely death of their founder, Theodore Mundy.