12; Oration delivered before' the Agricultural Society. 



inflammable air, phlogiflon or attenuated earth, it feems rather 

 too important for difcuflion in this c one i fe e flay. 



Quicklime has been recommended as a manure, which by 

 corroding, diflblving and defl:roying the vegetable matter lying 

 about the land, on which it is fpread, would by its feptic quality 

 add to the fertility of the foil. It is doubtful whether quick- 

 lime, as fuch, ever does any good ; certainly it has done hurt. 

 But let its primary operation be as it may, it foon returns to the 

 condition of inert earth by combining in its expofed ftate with 

 serial acid. Lime then is to be confldered in manuring, merely 

 as calcareous earth in powder, and not as having undergone in 

 the kiln, any change, fave pulverization. The alteration made 

 in the foil by its application is fimply in the addition of a new 

 fubftance to its former ingredients, which may change the 

 filtrating power of the earth, but not apply a frefli ftimulus to 

 the growing plants. Calcareous earth of any kind, reduced to 

 powder in anyway, if of equal purity and finenefs, feems equally 

 adapted to the purpofes of manuring. 



The plafler of Paris, which has been fo much extolled by 

 the Pennfylvanians, fails egregioufly in our trials upon Long- 

 Ifland. There is fomething Angular in its failure to do good 

 almoft every where in the maritime parts of this State. It falls 

 fliort of the charafter given to it in almofl; every refpeft. This, 

 I believe, is partly owing to the deception of the buyers, in 

 purchafmg both mark and gypju-my in a powdery form, under 

 the name of plafler of Paris. In fome meafure alfo it is to be 



