1847.] The Limestones, and Lime. 125 



and tbrin water. If, however, by any chemical action they are 

 simultaneously liberated from their combinations, they at once 

 unite and form water. So it is not improbable that most of the 

 combinations of inorganic matter with the organic, take place in 

 that state which is called by chemists, the nascent state, and that 

 in this state the same elements will be received into the vegetable 

 organs, which, when they have passed it, cannot or wull not be 

 taken up. 



But to come more directly to the uses of lime; and upon this 

 point, we suppose that the simplicity of our views may be a bar 

 To their adoption; for we regard the use and value of lime in ag- 

 riculture to consist mainly in this — that it is an element which in 

 itself is essential in the vegetable economy; or that it is impor- 

 tant, lor the simple reason that vegetables are so constituted that 

 they require it. It is a part and parcel of the elements which go 

 to make up the frame-work of the vegetable. This view of the 

 subject rests on facts. If we find, for instance, that lime enters 

 largely into the structure of all plants, then indeed do we prove 

 our position to be the true one. As an illustration of this posi- 

 tion, we may refer to the composition of bone. Lime, as is well 

 known, forms a large proportion of this tissue; and hence it is 

 inferred, and it is fair to infer it too, that lime is an essential ele- 

 ment to bone, because it forms in it so large a proportion. 



The same is true of vegetables. It forms a large proportion of 

 the ash of plants, the hard parts of the vegetables; and so by the 

 same process of reasoning, we have no doubt that the use of lime 

 is, to form an essential element in its tissues. In this, then, main- 

 ly consists the use of lime in agriculture; and this is by no means 

 an incidental use, vSuch, for example, as the destruction of slugs. 

 It is of no use to say that the compounds of lime are insoluble; 

 for w^e find it actually in the ash of vegetables. It is there, and 

 forms, in many instances, the largest proportion of the inorganic 

 matters. 



To show our readers the fact as it is, we subjoin three analyses 

 of the ash of different plants, which have but recently been com- 

 pleted in our laboratory: — 



Bean leaf. 

 Carbonate of lime, - - - 49.182 



Potash. 9.877 



Magnesia, 7.716 



Phosphates, 14.557 



Silica, - - - - - 12.276 



93.608 



