352 
Accidents through Farm Machinery. 
been had a less delicate and accurate plan for determining nitric 
acid been adopted than that recommended by Dr. Pugh. 
Whilst the proportion of nitric acid in the solution before and 
after filtration remained unaltered, that of potash was much less 
in the liquid after its passage through this soil. According to 
the preceding results, 1000 grains of soil absorbed 3 776 of 
potash. 
I have ascertained that the nitric acid from the decomposed 
portion of nitrate of potash passed through this soil almost entirely 
in combination with lime. The quantity of lime in the filtered 
solution weighed 4*270 grains ; this is very nearly the theoretical 
equivalent for the quantity of potash fixed by the soil. 
In this, as in all other cases, the base alone was absorbed by 
the soil, and the acid passed entirely into the filtrate. In most 
instances we have seen the acid of the decomposed potash-salt 
passed through the soil in combination with lime. Lime un- 
questionably has a powerful influence on the precise mode in 
which the absorbing properties of soils manifest themselves. 
Although the absence of lime in a soil does not prevent the 
display of the remarkable properties possessed by all soils of 
absorbing manuring matters, it can scarcely be doubted that the 
presence of much or little lime in a soil affects the precise mode 
in which these properties manifest themselves. 
The chemical action of lime in relation to agriculture has 
hitherto been regarded too much apart from its connection with 
soil and manure. Useful information, I have no doubt, is likely 
to spring from a study of its use with special reference to its 
influence on the absorbing properties of soils. 
12, Hanover Square, London, 
July, 1864. 
XVII. — Accidents through Farm Machinery. By Frederick 
Arthur Paget, C.E. 
The benefits Ave derive from the use of steam-machinery may be 
said* to annually increase by a law of rapid progression. But one 
deduction must be made from the sum total of these advantages. 
In a parallel line with the extending use of machines we have 
also an increase in number of disasters to life and limb. Machi- 
nery, like fire, is a very useful servant, but a terribly bad master. 
The steam " giant with one idea " has remorseless iron fingers, 
and woe to the living organism in their grasp. The well-made, 
well-kept steam-boiler is a docile instrument of wealth ; but the 
ill-made, ill-kept boiler may at any moment turn a peaceful home- 
