Sect. IV. Agriculture and Vegetation. 69 



depends ; becaufe it has no fenfible effect, 

 except in killing vermin the firft year, when 

 thefe parts are moft foluble in water. Lime 

 is probably effete, and no longer foluble, 

 when it begins to aft on the ground, and 

 affift vegetation. The lime of old houfes, 

 which is quite effete, is reckoned better 

 than frefh quick-lime. 



THERE is a very great attraction betwixt 

 quick-lime and all oily bodies j it unites 

 intimately with expreffed oils. With this 

 intention it is ufed in the manufacture of 

 foap, to help the junction of the alkaline 

 falts and oils. It mutt, therefore, attract the 

 oils powerfully from the air and earth, dif- 

 folve them, and render them mifcible with 

 water: it muft, from this reafbn, loon ex- 

 hauft the foil of all its oleaginous particles, 

 if the farmer does not take care to fupply 

 them by dung or animal fubflances. Farm- 

 ers have by experience difcovered it to be 

 a great impoveriflier of lands, but they did 

 not know how it acted. Its operation is, 

 F 3 to 



