52 THE PEACH 



of the health of the peach tree from its specific dis- 

 ease, in connection with other alkalies, it may be 

 as well for us to look now somewhat into its chem- 

 ical and mechanical action in the multiple econo- 

 my of vegetable life. Lime may be employed to 

 prevent the decay of wood and other organic sub- 

 stances, or it may be employed for their decompo- 

 sition. We have the example of the first in ships 

 and wooden structures used in transportation of 

 burned lime, and in carts and wagons conveying it 

 i'rom the kiln to the fields. In these cases the lime 

 is in excess of the organic matter, and therefore 

 the moisture in the wood is absorbed by the lime, 

 while the fibre is preserved in this way from de- 

 composition ; but if these conditions are reversed, 

 and the water and organic matter are in excess of 

 the newly burned lime, the wood will decay. Lime 

 is employed on our soils to reduce or decompose 

 vegetable elements, to correct its acidity, or for the 

 solution of silica, or the decomposition of iron salts 

 in the soil. 



Lime has a powerful attraction for carbonic acid, 

 and as vegetable matter is composed largely of car- 

 bon, it is readily seen why decomposition takes 

 place. Quick or caustic lime, in fact, soon becomes 

 the carbonate of lime by exposure to the action of 

 vegetable matter, and thus loses its caustic proper- 

 ties. As an alkali, lime neutralizes acidity in the 

 soil, and sweetens it for the growth of our crops. 

 A good soil must not possess any acid properties. 



