48 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



The abundant use of lime has undoubtedly occa- 

 sioned the consumption of a large proportion of the 

 vegetable and animal matters in the soils to which it has 

 repeatedly been applied ; still the evil is not so great as at 

 first it may appear. For although a considerable pro- 

 portion of these matters has been disengaged in a gassious 

 state, or othervvays made to contribute to the growth of 

 plants, still the lime, or chalk, by entering into certain 

 combinations, has formed' and accumulated a large stock 

 jof insoluble matter, capable, by certain saline substances, 

 of being again brought into action, and of being ren- 

 dered -conducive to vegetation . 



ALKA- 



