On Limmg Land. 285 



It will be perceived, that I have avoided, (as much 

 as possible,) technical disquisition. If I have not men- 



English writers, to lime mixed with inagncsicu If some pa- 

 triotic chemists would assist us in analyzing hme from every 

 quarter of our country, great advantages would be derived to 

 agriculture. We volunteer our services ; and so must che- 

 mists. Our limestone is of great varieties of texture, colour 

 and composition. 



Without knowing the composition of the lime which gave 

 rise to my observations in the text, which are grounded on 

 facts within my own knowledge, I am now satisfied that where 

 the 'greater quantities were required, the hme was mild lime, 

 I remember since Mr. Lang mentioned the subject, many 

 instances where the lime soon exhausted all its powers. And 

 I have always found that small quantities of strong, (or ac- 

 cording to Mr. Lang's ideas, magnesian) lime were more 

 serviceable and much more durable, than larger quantities of 

 that which must have been of the mild species. From one 

 lime-burner I always had what I called weak lime ; and dis- 

 continued dealing with him. The discovery of the compo- 

 nent parts of our lime generally, would diminish the surprise 

 I always feel when I read or hear of the vast quantities ap- 

 plied to land in Europe ; and it would, account for the small 

 quantity of our lime, proper for our land. The Europeans 

 must use what is called mild lime ; and we the strong or mag- 

 nesian kind. Their lime cannot be many degrees stronger 

 than chalk ; which also being a species of lime, contains the 

 cretaceous or carbonic acid. Should our investigations of lime, 

 proved by practical tests, turn out as now supposed, we shall 

 correct another European error, on the subject of lime. It 

 was long believed in England, that lime and gypsum were 

 hostile. Yet they knew that the gyps is itself a sulphate of 

 lime ; and therefore that it ought to have appeared reason- 



