On Liming Land. 285 
It will be perceived, that I have avoided, (as much 
as possible,) technical disquisition. If I have not men- 
‘English writers, to lime mixed with magnesia. If some pa- 
triotic chemists would assist us in analyzing lime from every 
quarter of our country, great advantages would be derived to 
agriculture. We volunteer our services ; and so must che- 
mists. Our limestone is of great varieties of texture, colour 
and composition. ’ 
Without knowing the composition of the lime which gave 
rise to my observations in the text, which are grounded on 
facts within my own knowledge, I am now satisfied that where 
the greater quantities were required, the lime was mi/d lime. 
Tremember since Mr. Lang mentioned the subject, many 
instances where the lime soon exhausted all its powers. And 
I have always found that small quantities of strong, (or ac- 
cording to Mr. Lang’s ideas, magnesian_.) lime were more 
serviceable and much more durable, than larger quantities of 
that which must have been of the mild species. From one 
lime-burner I always had what I called weaé lime ; and dis- 
continued dealing with him. The discovery of the compo- 
nent parts of our lime generally, would diminish the surprise 
I always feel when I read or hear of the vast quantities ap- 
plied to land in Europe ; and it would, account for the small 
quantity of our lime, proper for our land. The Europeans 
must use what is called mz/d lime ; and we the strong or mag- 
nesian kind. Their lime cannot be many degrees stronger 
than chalk ; which also being a species of lime, contains the 
cretaceous or carbonic acid. Should our investigations of lime, 
proved by practical tests, turn out as now supposed, we shall 
correct another European error, on the subject of lime. It 
was long believed in England, that lime and gypsum were 
hostile. Yet they knew that the gyps is itself a sulphate of 
hime ; and therefore that it ought to have appeared reason- 
