AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 89 



-with a mucilaginous saponaceous compound, soluble in 

 water, similar to that mentioned under the last article. 



The action of alkaline salts here stated to take place 

 on oxygenated pear, a substance which previously has 

 been observed to consist of the phosphoric and soreline, 

 or oxalic acids, combined with calcareous matter, is un- 

 doubtedly, as it may respect the aclion of alkalis on the 

 oxalat of lime, contrary to chemical principles, as lime 

 has a greater affinity with the soreline or oxalic acid than 

 alkalis have ; but as peat, in the state here described, is 

 mixed with other saline matters, and does not in all re- 

 spects resemble the oxalat of lime, but contains also a 

 large proportion of carbonaceous and inflammable mat- 

 ter, the action of the alkali, in dissolving the peat, 

 must be ascribed to the combination of the inflammable 

 or other matters. 



M STABLE , 



