^67 



I should fear that as the Lime has so strong an affinity 

 for carbonic and other acids, which it might meet with in 

 the soil, it would become so quickly neutralized, that it 

 could not remain in its caustic state sufficiently long in 

 contact with the silica of the soil, to enter into combination 

 with it. A silicate of soda may, I believe, be manufactured 

 artificially, by making a compost, intimately mixed, of equal 

 parts of carbonate of soda. Quick Lime, and fine sand, 

 and excluding the free admission of air to the heap. 



The Lime having a greater affinity for carbonic acid 

 than the soda, extracts and appropriates the acid, leaving 

 the soda caustic, in which state, in the course of a few 

 weeks, it combines with the silica of the sand, and forms 

 the compound spoken of, in a soluble state. In many 

 districts sulphur et of iron is one of the injurious com- 

 pounds that are found in the soil, and by exposure to the 

 air and moisture, it is converted into the sulphate, in which 

 state it is doubly baneful to vegetation. The application 

 of Quick Lime soon decomposes this deleterious compound, 

 and forms gypsum and peroxide of iron, both of which are 

 fertilizing. 



f Iron combines with Oxygen forming 



Sulphate of Iron. -? Peroxide of Iron. 



( Sulphuric Acid 



Quick Lime _:r:^Sulphate of Lime. 



Quick Lime also prevents the red rust in wheat, which, 

 according to Mr. Haywood's examination, is caused by the 

 plant imbibing phosphate of iron, which compound the Lime 

 decomposes, and then forms phosphate of Lime, being the 

 main fertilizing part of bones. It is frequently affirmed that 

 if you form a compost of Quick Lime and muriate of soda 

 or common salt, a decomposition and recombination takes 

 place ; that the muriatic acid leaves the salt and combines 

 with the Lime, forming muriate of Lime and caustic soda. 



