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0?i LimQ and Marls'^ by Mr, John Lang. 



Read April 14, 1812. 



9ir, 



The inquiries which have lately been set on foot in 

 our society, concerning the different varieties of lime, 

 have created a considerable degree of interest, but per- 

 haps not more than the subject deserves. Were the 

 question clearly decided, whether lime is possessed of 

 any nutritious quality, or if it only acts as a stimulant;, 

 by dissolving such animal and vegetable substances 

 as lie inert in the soil, and thereby preparing them for 

 the food of plants, it would go a great way towards re- 

 moving any difficulties which may stand in the way of 

 such conclusions as we may find it necessary to draw 

 from our farther investigations upon lime, or other cal- 

 careous substances. Besides, we might be thereby en- 

 abled to account for the various theories which have 

 been adopted, by practical and scientific enquirers, up- 

 on these subjects. You have declared yourself freely 

 in favour of the last position, and have done me the 

 honour to take me into the list with yourself. 



Dr. Tennent, in his remarks upon the recent im- 

 provements in Scots husbandry, thus observes, " It is 

 '^ the property of calcareous substances to act very 

 " powerfully in dissolving such vegetable and animal 

 " substances as are deprived of life. Under the action 

 ** of lime, vegetable matter in particular is speedily 

 ^' dissolved ; but, if it be either used in excess, or if 

 *' the land be too severely cropped, without allowing a 

 '* necessary restorative of putrescent manure, every one 



