271 



which time the latter remains in its caustic state. To peaty 

 soil containing much carbonic acid, the Magnesian Lime 

 may be effectively applied. 



I said that carbonate of Lime is an absorbent of moisture. 

 Sir Humphrey Davy mentions, that in continued dry wea- 

 ther in Derbyshire, while the hill sides resting upon grit 

 stone are burnt up, the vegetation on those where the 

 substratum is Limestone, appears green and luxuriant. I 

 have also heard of a gentleman who, in order to obtain 

 and preserve a green luxuriant appearance on his lawn, 

 which was previously quite brown in dry weather, pared 

 the sod, and inserted under it a layer of Limestone, after 

 which the desired result took place. In the Qiiarterly 

 Journal of Agriculture, I observe a paper by Mr. Glyde, 

 in the course of which he gives a table of the powers of 

 absorption of moisture by some of the constituents of soil, 

 which will explain why vegetation growing in land resting 

 upon a subsoil composed of Magnesian Limestone, should 

 not be so greatly affected by dry weather. 



The following Table shows the powers of absorption of 

 moisture, possessed by different ingredients of soils. 1000 

 grains of each, spread over a space of 56 inches, the temper- 

 ature of the air being 60 degrees, time of exposure being 72 

 hours. 



Silicious Sand .. 

 Calcareous Sand 



Gypsum 



Sandy Clay 



Loamy Clay 



Stiff Clay 



Grey pure Clay 



0 

 3 

 1 

 28 

 35 

 41 

 49 

 35 

 82 



Lime 



In conclusion, I beg to express an opinion that perhaps 

 the agriculture of no locality would be more improved by 



