AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 207 



the soil by the oxalic or soreline acid, formed by the com- 

 bination of oxygen, or pure air, with the basis of the so- 

 reline acid contained in the vegetable matter of the soil"; 

 and so long as the vegetable matter remains in a state- 

 fit to become oxygenated, it will have a tendency to 

 promote the growth of sorel. It has been stated that 

 the juice or salt of sorel is a superacidulated neu- 

 tral salt, consisting of the vegetable alkali and the 

 oxalic acid. This superabundant acid is inimical to the 

 growth of grain, or of such vegetables or grasses as con- 

 stitute the food of most animals: but which tendency 

 in the soil, and injurious consequences, are to be correct- 

 ed by the application of different substances, viz. by lime, 

 by chalk, by magnesia, by alkaline salts, and by paring 

 and burning. 



Lime will combine with the acid of the sorel, and form 

 an oxalat of lime, which is insoluble : as such it should 

 only be applied in such small quantities as will neutralize 

 the acid in the soil, or the superabundant proportion of acid 

 contained in the sorel; so that the other component part 

 of sorel, viz. the oxalat of potash, may not be decom- 

 posed by the superior affinity which the oxalic acid has to 



lime; 



