272 
was quite dusty, and so continued until ten days ago, the plant 
came up well in three weeks, which is, at least, ten days sooner 
than Carrot seed usually comes up, even under favourable cir- 
cumstances as to rain. I sowed one more row of the Turnip, with 
a double quantity of salt, which seems to have destroyed the 
seed, as none has yet appeared. If you think these experiments 
worth noticing in your excellent Journal, you are quite welcome 
to do so, and I shall feel happy if so simple a substance should 
prove of use in forcing a plant of Turnips, or other roots.” 
On the three turnips received the editor remarks, — “Of the 
specimens sent. No. 1 appears to be a plant which has had about 
six weeks’ vigorous growth ; No. 3 has not yet acquired its 
rough leaf; and No. 2 is of a medium size. This extraordi- 
nary difference in plants sown at the same time, on the same plot 
of ground, appears to be wholly owing to the simple means 
adopted, as described above, which, from his Lordship’s expe- 
rience, certainly appear to be well worthy of extensive trial.” 
219 Lime, its action. In considering manures, it is not unim- 
portant that we understand the rationale of their action ; and, 
as lime is one amongst the most generally used inorganic sub- 
stances for fertilizing the soil, we will give Sir Humphrey Davy’s 
opinion on this subject. He says, “When lime, whether freshly 
burned, or slaked, is mixed with any moist fibrous vegetable 
matter, there is a strong action between the lime and the vege- 
table matter, and they form a kind of compost together, of which 
a part is usually soluble in water. By this kind of operation, 
lime renders matter which was before comparatively inert nu- 
tritive ; and as charcoal and oxygen abound in all vegetable 
matters, it becomes at the same time converted into carbonate of 
lime. Mild lime, powdered limestone, marls or chalks, have no 
action of this kind upon vegetable matter; by their action they 
prevent the too rapid decomposition of substances already dis- 
solved; but they have no tendency to form soluble matters. It 
is obvious from these circumstances that the operation of quick- 
lime, and marl or chalk, depends upon principles altogether 
different. Quicklime, in being applied to land, tends to bring 
any hard vegetable matter that it contains into a state of more 
rapid decomposition and solution, so as to render it proper 
food for plants. Chalk, and marl, or carbonate of lime, will 
only improve the texture of the soil, or its relation to absorption. 
