990 
W. E. FRENCH. 
analyzed samples of soils from several counties of the peninsula 
and by referring to that analysis it will be seen that in nearly all 
soils tested the percentage of lime was far below one per cent., 
generally less than one-tenth of one per cent., and often none 
whatever. Yet we know that all vegetables, fruits and grains 
demand lime and animals still more, as from sixty to seventy 
per cent, of bone contists of phosphate and carbonates of lime. 
For the lack of lime the Florida marsh pony, living on marshy 
land, where the soil is of purely vegetable origin, grows small 
and stunted. The same is true of the native cattle living all 
their lives on sandy lands where there is almost no mineral in 
the soil but silica ; they are inferior in stature having no mineral 
elements to maintain the tone and vigor of the system. In such 
regions where brush heaps have been burned, leaving the ashes 
to fertilize the ground with minerals, lime and potash making 
the grass sweet and tender, the cattle depasture it into the very 
ground. They evidently require the minerals in their feed as 
man needs salt for a relish. It is a fact that in the interior states 
where the soil is of a mineral origin, cattle require salt. In 
Florida they care little for it, but consume lime greedily, even 
bones. The humane farmer will not look with indifference upon 
this spectacle of his live stock actually suffering for an element 
which their systems instinctively demand. 
Therefore it is necessary to add lime to supply this deficiency. 
Lime water is appropriate for gastric derangements and will often 
correct and check diarrhoea in calves ; and is also useful in all 
forms of malnutrition, indigestion and prevents acidity. There¬ 
fore I suggest the use of lime water as the best and cheapest 
method of supplying this deficiency 
The phosphate of lime or calcium phosphate is present in 
bones, nerves, and.other animal textures; occurs abundantly in 
the intercellular fluid, and wherever cell-growth is most active 
and is hence an essential constituent of food and a restorative. 
Its absence in the dietary is shown to induce softening of the 
bones and general wasting; it is deficient in the bones of preg¬ 
nant animals, and furthermore children living on some of the 
