Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/122

104&#93; 104] L I M or wood ; and which, though rich- ly stored with vegetable food, have contrafted nn acidity, in conse- quence of their long rest, and the spontaneous growth of roots. On the contrary, lime is of lit- tle service on poor, light, and thin soils; or such as are on a quarry of lime or other stone, especially after they have borne crops for a considerable number of years. Nor is it produtlive of any advantage on strong, stony land ; on wet, cold loams, which have not been suffi- ciently drained ; or similar clays that are tenacious of moisture; but iVlr. Akthur Young is of opi- nion, that large quantities of well- drahied lime, laid on very still' clay, vould be attended with a favoura- ble effeft ; though he candidly adds, that it never has been tried to his satisfatli in. With respect to the expence of procuring lime, the usual cost is from 2id. to 3d. per bushel, where coals can be easily conveyed to tl e kiln. But, where fuel is expen- sive, and at a distance, the price rises to 4d. and sometimes even to 6d. : in this case, however, it is too valuable to be employed as a manure, unless it be ascertained by experience, that a small pro- portion will answer the purpose. Mr. Young observes, that " araan may venture large quantities at 3d, per bushel ;" though even at that price, he would employ it only on those soils which might. In all pi'o- babillty, be thus greatly and per- manently improved. Few manures contribute to pro- mote vegetation in a more conspi'* cuous manner than lime. By its union with the carbonic acid, it renders the latter soluble in water, instead of expanding it into a gas; and tlius a great quantity LIM of carbon will be absorbed by (he vessels of plants. Dr. Darwin conje(!3;ures, that calcareous matter forwards vegetation by the phos- phorus it contains ; and which, being united with the lime, is con- verted into a hepar, without be- coming acid by the addition of oxygen. Although lime be an im- proper manure for clay-soils. Dr. D. is inclined to believe, that if it were properly mixed with tltem, such lands would be rendered less cohesive, and consequently admit of bein.i more easily penetrated by vegetable hbres. It destroys worms, snails, and all other insefts, which may be touched by it, and with which almost every soil abounds. Lastly, such are its limeliorating ef- feds on grass-land in particular, that if a spadeful of lime be thrown on a tussock, which horses or cattle have refused to eat for several years, they will for many succeeding sea- sons eat it close to the ground : diis change. Dr. Darwin supposes to aiise from a larger portion of sac- charine matter beina; now contain- ed in the joints of the grass, and a smaller degree of acidit}'' in its cir- culating juices. Quick-lime Is also of great utility In rending rocks and stones, when mixed with gunpowder, in the pro- portion of one pound of the former, well dried and pulverized, to two pounds of the latter. This singular property of lime was discovered, and is related, by H.D.Griffith, Esq. in the 8th vol. of ti.e Trans- actions (if tlie Bath and JVest of England Society ; where he states, that the mixture above specified, caused an explosion with a force equal to three pounds of gunpow- der : hence, in those operations, onq-third of thq expence naay be saved.