The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-06
AGRICULTURAL aEoLooY.-No. vi.
nY Josiah noLBRook.


Lime formations are moro ates than idcs. Car
donates arc most abundant, various, and usefu,
frequently very beautiful. Common Limestone OF
different and colors most, perhaps all, the
marbles chalk, and CRYSTALS OF various forms a nd
hues. arc the carbonates of lime; about forty four
parts carbonic acid, and hity-six quick hme--ox-
ydes Of calcium.
Next to the carbonatcs oflime, sulphatcs are most
abundant and useful. Common gypsum, power
fol manure; alabaster, much used for ornaments
under a beautiful polish crystals Of considerable
variety and beauty, the sulphates OF lime.
Fluate OF lime is another calcareous formation
Il is known as iuor SPAR also Derbyshire spar. II
receives fine polish, when IT ia used for various or
namental purposes. From the iuate OF lime fiuoric
acid is Obtained, which has the power Of acting on
glass. BY covering any piece Of glass with a thin
Coat of wax, then dottng through the wax letters
or any figures, and exposing the glass to huoric
acid etching is produced on the glass. The huoIic
acid is set free from the lime by charging it with
sulphuric acid.
Nitrate of lime, though not common, is found in
some considerable deposits. II has been supposed
that it would furnish good material for producing
the oxygen gas for the calcium light. Bones are
the phosphate flimc. Chloride of lime is a manu-
featured article, formed by exposing lime to chic
rine. II was first manufactured some forty years
since, and is now a most important article in the
manufacture OF cotton fabrics 1t has great bleach
ing powers.
Every child knows that lime forma tons, espe-
caly carbonatcs and sulphates, are alike essential
for the purposes of agriculture and architecture.
By proper mixture of quartz and feldspar, or
sand clay and lime, soil becomes permanently
fertile. The three may be considered the essential
elements Of soils, though sand and clay, without
the presence of lime, produce vegetation. Both
the sulphate and the phosphate OF lime probably
add more as temporary stimulants of vegetation
than as essential ingredients in soils.
BY taking review VI the ides and dtes already
presented, as forming the elements of mountains,
rocks and Soils one can well fail of being struck
with the simplicity, beauty, and practical utility
of geology and chemistry, as at the very founda-
ton of the most practical knowledge, of course pc
culiarly fitted for the very "frs lessons" both in
schools and families.
ExpERIMENr.-By applying the thumb nail and
the point of knife to the different lime formations,
especially the carbonates and suphates, it may be
found which give to the former, and whether all
Weld to the latter. Their hardness, compared with
each other, also with feldspar, quartz, and other
minerals, may thus be ascertained.
SILVER MINING IN MExIco.-During the year
of 1850, according to Mexican authorities, there
extracted, from all the mines in Mexico, silver
to the value of $50 200 O0O which is pretty con-
siderable amount; and from this it may be in
ferred that, could the country enjoy undisturbcd
tranquility, and all its industrial operations and
enterprises be adequately protected and encour-
aged, this amount might be and would be greatly
increased. And if the mines of quicksilver discov-
cred recently in California should turn out to be
rich they are supposed to be, the consequence
will be great reduction in the price of that min
eral. 1t will fall, probably, to two thirds to
half the present price; and should that take place,
then silver ores, that are now too poor to yield
rcmunerating amount of that metal, will become
valuable and this new source of metallic wealth
will add. perhaps, s no 900 900 to the aggregate
amount of the silver raised; SO that the whole will
not fall any thing short it may be, of $40 900 900
per annum, the tranquility Of the country being
presupposed
Should Mexico yield $40 900 900 per annnm, the
annual quantity raised on this continent might be
assumed at $50, 100000. But this product. large
as it is, will not be sufficient to maintain the eqni
lbrium between gold and silver, establish
ed, should California continue to furnish the
nous quantities of the first, she has done for the
last two years; and that she will, and more, many
believe, and believe, too. that the supply will be
permanent-that is, it will last for an indefinite
number of years, and certainly for great many
If this be so, then silver must rise in value, gold
must fall, which, for all practical purposes, is i'm
material. And when this disturbance gets to be
inconvcnent and embarrassing, then the wise men
who make and unmake the laws must set them
selves to work and conjure out remedy for the
evil when it comes. Some think il is now US;
others think not. We are in doubt ourselves as to
whether it is or not.-N. Y. Express.