On Lime, 



veo-ctation, and that it diminishes ih^ fertility of the soil. 

 The distinguishing characteristics of these two varieties 

 of lime, mentioned by Mr. Tennant, it would seem, 

 can only be discovered either by analysing, (which pro- 

 cess farmers are generally ignorant of;) or by making 

 experiments by applying it to the soil. It is said that 

 magnesian lime when used in too great quantities ren- 

 ders the soil less fertile, and wherever a heap of it has 

 been left on one spot, vegetation will be prevented for 

 many years ; while of the other sort of lime, a large 

 quantity is never to be found injurious ; and that the 

 spots which are entirely covered with it, become re- 

 markably fertile, instead of being rendered barren. 



From thf^ above statement it would appear that by far 

 the greatest proportion of all the limes used either in 

 this country or in Europe are of the magnesian kind, 

 or in other words must contain a certain proportion of 

 magnesia. For my own part I have never seen pure 

 calcarious lime, unless that made from calcined shells 

 may be denominated such ; though I must own I am 

 not chemist enough to be able to discover the magne- 

 sian lime, except by its effects upon the soil, as above 

 described by Mr. Tennant, and Dr. Darwin. The dis- 

 tinctions w^hich some farmers make, of hot and mild 

 lime, Mr. Tennant believes to mean magnesian and cal- 

 carious lime. And the Doctor says he is informed that 

 the magnesian lime is preferred in architecture, and is 

 said to go further in making mortar, &c. If this is the 

 case I think it will be admitted that all the lime used in 

 the United States, either for building or manure, is of 

 the hot or magnesian kind ;^ as it is well known diat the 

 lime of this country is generally stronger and of course 



