20 FACTS AND OPINIONS ON LIME. 



fectly transparent, and possesses an acrid, alkaline taste, 

 somewhat similar to the ley from wood-ashes. 



Dr. Alston states that one pound of quick lime fur- 

 nished him with 600 pounds of hme-water without 

 its being sensibly weakened, and that he continued 

 the application of additional quantities of fresh water 

 to it for twenty-six months. 



It is presumed that it is this alkaline solution of lime 

 that produces the principal effect on the soil and on 

 vegetation. Lime and its solution are well known to 

 be powerful antiseptics, resisting or impeding putri- 

 faction in animal or vegetable substances, notwith- 

 standing it has been stated in many books of agricul- 

 ture that it promotes fermentation and putrifaction, 

 and renders bodies more quickly and readily soluble 

 in water. 



Gluick lime, applied to succulent vegetables, absorbs 

 the moisture from them, and renders them perfectly 

 dry and brittle ; and, if the quantity of lime be great 

 compared with the vegetable matter, combustion takes 

 place, and the vegetables are reduced to ashes, but 

 are not decomposed in the usual understanding of the 

 term. 



Lime spread on the surface sod is in some measure 

 prevented by the grass and the fibres of the roots from 

 descending into the earth, and the rains from time to 

 time dissolve it, and carry down the alkaline solution, 

 so as to moisten every particle of the soil with it. 

 This neutralizes the acidity of the soil, and the car- 

 bonic acid gas of the atmosphere converts the solution 

 into carbonate of lime in connection with every parti- 

 cle of earth it comes in contact with : and this being 

 much less adhesive than clay, when it comes to be 

 ploughed, the particles easily separate ; and hence the 

 property of lime in rendering the soil less adhesive, 

 and more readily penetrated by the roots of plants in 

 search of food. 



Particles of sand not being penetrated by moisture, 



