1804.^ # On ascertaining the ^liility of Lime. 4^^% 



W 



Your mai^^azine, I find, 13 beeoming every day more popu- 

 lar, and acquiring a mo:st e:vtensive circulation. U/ider thcjc 

 circumstances I consider it as an obligation incumbent on you, 

 to remind the Justices of Peace of theii%duty, and to point 

 out the lamentable consequences attending the neglect of it. 

 In doing those things, you will oblige many of your friends, 

 and, in particular, your humble servant, 



Agricola. 



TO TJIK CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



On ascertaining the quality of Liine^ 

 Sir, 



1 know nolhirig of more importance, lefs attended to by Far- 

 mers in general, than the quality of lime. Not unfrequently in 

 driving home, vvliat they underitand to be a thoufand loads of 

 lime, they are unknowingly beftowing their money, their time, 

 j).nd their labour, on a difguifed fubflance, the half of which is 

 fand or clay. This difguife too, can feldom be detefted by tiie 

 eye, or any of the other organs of perception. Plain direclions 

 therefore for difcovering the qualities of lime, it is believed, 

 may not be unworthy of the notice of your readers. 



Lime is an alkalme fait of fuch a nature, that if quite pure, it 

 may be wholly diiiolv^ed in any ftrong acid or vinegr.r. It melts 

 as completely away in this menftruum as common fait or sugar, 

 or any other efifential fait of vegetable fubllance do in water. 

 Hence, it is very ejjfy to try the comparative value of two or 

 more pieces of limeflone from dilTerent quarries. Buy a bottle 

 of muriatic acid, which may be obtained from any Laboratory. 

 Then weigh out equal quantities of the limeilonts, the compa- 

 rative quality of which you mean to afccrtain, mixing together 

 a due proportion of the different feams or flrata, that are com- 

 monly wrought in each quarry. That limeflone which leaves 

 lead fediment when difTolved, is of courfe the bell. 



There can be no comparifon made however, if \ou take «n- 

 burnt limeflone of one rock, and burait Hones or flacked lime of 

 another. Each portion for trial, mull be precifel)^ in the lame 

 llate. For all pure unburnt limeitones, contain about two- 

 iifths or 40 per cent of their weight of air (carbonic acid gas,) 

 ivhich is expelled by burning. Of confequence, a given weight 

 of burnt limeflone, provincially called lime-llielis, mud contain a 

 proportion equal to this, of more refufe than the fame weight of 

 unburnt rock. Moreover, by the knowledge of the exacf jofs 

 of weight occalioned by burning, a calculation may be made of 

 the expediency of driving home limeflone, to be burnt in fome 



cafes 



