89
cts for a month; at the end of which the straw in the garden mould
in was more putrefied than the other. But quick lime, with the
or aid of water, suddenly destroys all vegetable substances. Upon
the the surface it putrefies the growing herbage, but does not appear
one to reach the roots, as a fresh verdure soon after arises. But
of when the roots of a growing plant are immersed in lime water,
ken its leaves soon droop, and it does not recover, though the lime
ties soon falls to the bottom, and leaves tire water sweet.
When lime, used as cement or plaster, is exposed to stagnantof air, or to the alternate influence of rain and frost, its cohesive
teat power is destroyed, its particles separate, and it crumbles into
tly dust. In this state it has been found to have an uncommonly
to good effect in promoting fertility, when applied, especially, to
rn- cohesive soils. Powder of lime spread, and allowed to lie and
its carbonate on the surface, seems to be acted upon in the same
ock manner. At first it becomes hard and stoney under the foot,
the and after some time feels more mellow and friable. It is not
fol- known whether or not the carbonic acid, by which the parts
all of the lime were bound together, be liberated by this change;
but it is certain these parts never again cohere, but seem ratherong to repel one another.
arly The solution of quicklime in water combines with oil, and
tan- forms a kind of soap. Even the carbonate of lime has an im-
ut is perfect operation on oil somewhat similar, the two substances
gradually forming together into a viscid coagulum.mes Lime, whether quick or carbonated, has a strong affinity with
air, the acids, by combining with which their antiseptic influence is
and withdrawn from substances which they kept in preservation, and
hal- these substances are allowed freely to putrefy’,
lick- Lime itself is not possessed of the necessary qualifications of
lain the soil. Seeds planted in a flower-pot filled with pounded ear-
and bonate of lime, regularly watered, will vegetate feebly, but make
little progress, and die without coming to perfection. In a flower-reat pot partly filled with garden mould, and carbonate of lime an
, a- inch and a half thick over it, plants put down their radicles
straight through the lime, without ramifying or stretching side-ve- "'sys, till they arrived at the other mould. Even in a mixture,
ght where lime was only one fifth, the plants were poor and sickly,
rsed end made no progress.
lain- Lime and its compounds are always found in the ashes of burnt
skin land vegetables : of course, it must be an ingredient in their com-
lan- position ; but it is a very inconsiderable ingredient, perhaps not
pro- the hundredth part of the whole plant.
itre- ' These are a few traits in the character of lime. It is much to
ves- be regretted that the subject has not been more fully investigat-
was ed. Perhaps what is here advanced may excite farther inquiry,
gar- and clearer discoveries may be made. Judging from these faint-
loist lights, the purposes for which lime is applicable to the soil in