108 



more satisfactorily that this volatiHty was subdued, I subjected 

 the mixture to considerable heat. Had the ammonia continued 

 volatile, this process must have driven it off ; but afterwards, 

 to prove that it still actually remained in the mixture, I added 

 a little quick lime and moisture, upon which a re> combination 

 took place; the sulphuric acid leaving the ammonia, and com- 

 bining with the quick lime, and again forming sulphate of 

 lime; the ammonia, in a gaseous state, flying off into the at- 

 mosphere. This latter part of the experiment I will show 

 you, first premising, in order to reconcile this seeming para- 

 dox, that although sulphuric acid has a greater affinity for 

 ammonia than carbonate of lime, as in the original or first 

 experiment mentioned, it still prefers, and will combine with, 

 quick or simple lime, and discards the ammonia to accomplish 

 this purpose. This process is exemplified as follows : — 



Sulphate of J Sulphuric Acid v 



Ammonia ^ Ammonia Dispersed in a gaseous state. 



Quick Lime Lime Sulphate of Lime. 



Here allow me to remark, that arguing from this result, it 

 appears that the application of quick lime simultaneously with 

 farm-yard manure, must be injurious; as the lime, when in the 

 quick state, will tend to disperse the ammonia generated in the 

 manure; but carbonate of lime, or lime become effete by long 

 exposure to the atmospheric air, has not that hurtful tendency. 

 The Rev, Wm. Thorp, one of the most active and efficient 

 members of this society, and one to whom we have been indebted 

 for many and valuable papers, in his Report, read before the 

 Yorkshire Agricultural Society at Hull, on Agricultural Geo- 

 logy, seems to doubt the assertions of Liebig, Dr. Daubeny, 

 Professor Johnstone, and others, that the use of gypsum is 

 " to fix or to deprive ammonia of its volatility, that a double 

 decomposition takes place, and that sulphate of ammonia 

 and carbonate of lime are formed." I think that what I 



