THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



49 



Of all mineral manures, lime is most known, and generally 

 used, and various have been the conjectures regarding the 

 method of its application. It is generally used either as quick 

 lime, that is, in the state immediately after being burnt, and 

 before it has been much exposed to the action of atmospheric 

 air, or before water has been applied to it. It is also used 

 as mild lime, which is quick lime exposed for a certain time 

 to the action of the atmosphere. The solution of the question, 

 whether quick lime should be applied to a soil, depends on the 

 quantity of inert vegetable matter that it contains ; and the 

 solution of the question, whether marl, mild lime, or powdered 

 limestone ought to be applied, depends on the quantity of 

 calcareous matter already in the soil. All soils which do not 

 effervesce with acids are improved by mild lime, and ulti- 

 mately by quick lime. Sands are more improved by lime than 

 clays. When a soil, which is deficient in calcareous matter, 

 contains much soluble vegetable manure, the application of 

 quick lime should always be avoided, as it tends either to de- 

 compose the soluble matters, by uniting to them carbon and 

 oxygen, so as to become mild lime ; or it combines with the 

 soluble matters, and forms those compounds, which have less 

 attraction for water, than the pure vegetable substances : the 

 case is the same with respect to most animal manures, but the 

 operation of the lime is different in various cases, and depends 

 on the nature of the animal matter. Lime forms a kind of in- 

 soluble soap with oily matters, and then gradually decomposes 

 them by separating from them their oxygenic and carbonic pro- 

 perties. It combines also with the animal acids, and probably 

 assists their decomposition by abstracting carbonaceous matter 

 from them combined with oxygen, and consequently it must 

 render them less nutritive. It tends, likewise, from the same 

 causes, to diminish the nutritive powers of albumen, and always 

 destroys, to a certain extent, the efficacy of animal manures^ 

 either by entering into combination with certain of their ele- 

 ments, or by giving them a new arrangement. 



Lime should never be applied with animal manures, unless 

 they be too rich, or for the purpose of preventing noxious 

 effluvia. It is injurious, when mixed with any common dung, 

 and tends to render the extractive matter insoluble. All limes 



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