1847.] The. Limestones, and Lime. 123 



Analysis of Parker's Cement. 



Lime, 33.00 



Alumina, oxide of iron and manganese, 39.00 



Silica, 10.00 



Water, 1.00 



Carbonic acid, .... 17.00 



100.00 

 Uses of Lime. 

 It is by no means an easy matter to determine the uses of lime 

 in vegetation; and we shall take the precaution to inform our 

 readers that we are not prepared to say much upon the subject. 

 The opinion of chemists and agriculturists differ greatly upon the 

 theory of the action of this substance, while at the same time 

 they agrc'.^ in the opinion that it is useful. 



Mr. Towers, who has lately written upon lime, in the Farmers' 

 Magazine, has summed up its action under the following 

 heads: — 



1. When air slacked, and in a fine powder, if applied to lands, 

 it kills slugs. 2. It neutralizes acids, and especially unites with 

 humic acid. 3. Liberates potash and soda in soils and rocks. 

 4. Does not render vegetable and animal matters soluble. 



According to Fownes, lime acts menely as an antidote to re- 

 dundant humous matter, and fixes acids, and makes an innocuous 

 humate. One remark we believe we may safely make, in re- 

 gard to the above summary, is, that the uses here ascribed 

 to lime are mostly incidental, and do not come up to the solution of 

 the problem. The whole summary is based upon an assumption 

 that lime, in the vegetable economy, is of little or no consequence. 

 It kills slugs — it neutralizes acids — renders humous matter innoc- 

 uous — liberates the alkalies, &c. ; and hence we say that the view 

 is wholly defective; foi they only imply that its use is something, 

 ah extra, and has nothing to do with the economy of vegetation — 

 with the internal arrangement of organized beings, and fulfils no 

 end, so far as their structure and functions are concerned. Such 

 we regard, therefore, as wholly defective, and as falling far short 

 of explaining those purposes for which lime and its compounds 

 have been created. 



Lime, without doubt, exerts an influence, which is modified ac- 

 cording to circumstances; and this influence is especially modified 

 by the presence or absence of vegetable matter. In itself and 

 alone, or while in the form of a carbonate, as it exists in rocks 

 and marls, or as a mild hydrous carbonate, in the form of an air 

 slacked lime, it may not be adapted to the economy of vegetables 



