AND ITS DISEASE. 53 



The remains of plants, and even stable manure are 

 of an acid nature, but the soil usually contains, in 

 its mineral constituents, so many bases lime, pot- 

 ash, soda and magnesia that these suffice to neu- 

 tralize the acidity. But when this natural supply 

 is insufficient we must add to it, and lime is the 

 cheapest base at the hands of the farmer. Lime 

 has the property of setting at liberty the alkalies 

 in the soil, thus favoring the formation of the solu- 

 ble silicates, so important to the growth of grass 

 and grain. The application of lime to land and 

 the burning of clay act on the same principle in 

 decomposing the clay silicates and liberating their 

 alkalies, thus favoring solubility and affording nu- 

 triment to vegetable life. Lime in its caustic state 

 is destructive to moss, lichen, fungi and all vegeta- 

 ble and animal matter. 



In the month of October the fields of Yorkshire, 

 and Oxfordshire, England, look as if they were 

 covered with snow. They are plowed down, and 

 whole square miles are seen whitened over with 

 quick lime, which during the moist winter months 

 exercises its beneficial influence upon the stiff clay 

 soil of those countries. 



Fruitfulness in cold clay soils may be promoted 

 and made equal to the best for apples, peaches and 

 other fruits with a moderate dressing of quick lime, 

 about the quantity such lands should receive for 

 corn. Lime will generally promote profuse flow, 

 ering and fruiting of trees and plants, the lime 



