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 tlie 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 otherways 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 

 of insoluble matter, capable, by certain saline substances, 

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

 dered conducive to vegetation. 



ALKA- 



