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solubility of the Lime, when it comes in contact with water 

 containing carbonic acid, and in which state of solution it 

 is carried into the substrata, and finally brought to the 

 surface again by the springs ; after which it is again 

 deposited on the land in another locality, or carried by 

 the rivers into that great receptable, the sea, where, as 

 nothing in nature is lost, it is again appropriated by those 

 occupants of the deep, whose covering and habitations are 

 formed from calcareous matter. When we consider the 

 immense quantity of rain that in England annually falls 

 upon the earth, being on the average equal to about thirty 

 inches in depth, which will amount to about 668,000 gallons 

 per acre : and that it always contains an appreciable quan- 

 tity of carbonic acid, rendering it capable of dissolving 

 Carbonate of Lime, we need no longer be surprised that 

 that necessary ingredient so quickly disappears from the 

 soil, and requires renewing. 



Again, it is an often-observed fact, that Lime sinks into 

 the soil, without being actually brought into solution, and 

 is lodged below the reach of the spade or the plough, or 

 of the plants that we wish to cultivate. 



Lime may be effectively applied to land in different 

 states ; — either in its real quick unslaked state, as it comes 

 from the kiln, (when it is the most caustic,) or when 

 slaked with water, in which state it is called Hydrate 

 of Lime, and still caustic ; — or when it has fallen to a 

 powder by mere exposure to the air, and is only partially 

 caustic ; or it may be applied in the state of a carbonate, 

 when it has lost all its causticity. In its two first states 

 it ought not to be applied to such growing plants as you 

 wish to preserve, as it is then injurious to vegetable life, 

 and should therefore be put upon the land only when 

 under the plough, or some days previous to sowing the 

 seed. The circumstance of its being fatal to vegetable 



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