Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-25
AGRIG9Ll URAL PAPERS.
a SERIES PREPARED ESPECIALLY PoR
THE "REcoRD-UaIoN"
Presenting Instruction Contained in Lect-
ures from the Chair of Agricult-
ure, State University

SEVENTH PAPER: LIME-THE CARBONATE
THE oxIDE-THE sULPHATE-THE NJ
TRATE-THE PHosPHATE-THE CHLORIDE.
The principal compounds of lime zeal.
cium) of interest to us are the carbonate,
oxide, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate and
chloride. Carbonate of lime is of very
general occurrence throughout the mineral
world. Chalk, marble and most of the
imestones are simply calcium carbonate OF
more or less purity. Carbonate OF calcium
varies in color, hardness and other physical
properties, but its weight remains nearly
constant at about two and one-half
times that of water The carbonates of
calcium are, on being brought in contact
with almost any acid, all dissolved with
a solution of carbonic acid. They may
even be dissolved by water holding car
bonic acid in solution This fact accounts
for the amount of lime contained in the
water of springs which rise from or which
flow through beds of limestone. Lime
(cslcium) is one of the essential ingredients
of all soils. The natural limestone beds
form one of the most available sources of
this substance.
OXIDE OF CALCIUM
Or quicklirne is formed from the carbonate
by simply burning it in kilns, allowing the
free access of air. The heat drives eff car
homie acid, leaving the oxide of calcium,
quicklirne. Quickhme has many of the
properties of the caustic alkalis potassium
and sodium; II has strong affinity for
water, and IN the process of shaking the
lime the absorption of water Is accom-
panied by the liberation of great heat.
Quicklime combines with about one third
OF its weight OF water to form the hydrate
of lime, caustic, or slaked lime. Lime does
not occur naturally in this state, nor does
the calcic hydrate when exposed to the air
long retain its caustic properties Carbonic
acid is gradually absorbed from the atmos.
phere, thus converting the hydrated
lime back into carbonate. This pro.
cess takes place in connection with
ali lime applied to the soil; but the value
of the fertilizer does not cease with its con-
version into carbonic acid During the
process of natural Stacking the lime is re-
duced into very fine powder which, when
the quick or Stacked lime has been changed
mate mixture of that substance with the
soil. The action of quicklime upon the
land is one of great Importance to vege-
table growth. 1t hastens the decomposi-
ton of the vegetable matter of the soil,
during which process carbonic acid and
other compounds valuable to vegetative
growth are formed. These compounds are
generally soluble, and, as such, are easily
absorbed by the roots of the plants.
CHLORIDE OF LIME
May be prepared from chalk or any of the
other carbonates. of lime by treating them
with chlorhydric (muriatic) acid, and
evaporating the solution to dryness. The
product is a white, anonymous mass, very
readily absorbing water, and crumbling to
a white powder when in contact with the
air. Chloride of lime is found in solution
II sea-water, and In considerable quantities
IN the mother liquor of the salt-pans, used
IN the publication of salt. Calcic sulphate
or gypsum is, of all the calcium compounds,
probably the one most generally used and
at most Importance, with the single excep-
Ei9n of the oxide, which is used so ex-
keasively for building purposes Calcic
esdipaate is present in many soils, and is
A. nd dissolved in most waters of the soils,
.sq.a it is alsofound in the ash OF most plants.
I. also occurs naturally in great guam
1;,ies in beds of white crystalline, earthly
IN eral deposits in many parts of the world.
L = quite extensively used in the arts as
; Gst T of Paris, which is simply caleined
sam of high grade of purity. By
'So'- process of calcining 81 per cent. of
=. x is driven of. This burned gypsum
ss4g 5e easily reduced to fine, white, i'm
"a l1SDle powder, which, being mixed with
~21er to a liquid consistency, may be
!, 4ged into molds, and which requires but
a .ew moments in which to set or harden
Tvs state seems to be brought about by
g.. absorption of the 81 per cent. of water
W lich was driven off by the burning, ard
the substance returns to a form greatly re-
if not identical with, the original
one. Burned gypsum is often sold as a
fertilizer under the name of plaster, the
essential ingredients of which are mainly
sulphuric acid and lime. This as manure
will be specially beneficial to those plants
requiring large per cent. of these two In
gradients.
NITRATE OF LIME
Is white substance found in most soils,
and which rapidly absorbs water, forming
a liquid. 1t is soluble in water, and is on
that account liable to be washed beyond
the reach of the plants by heavy showers,
and may even be washed completely away
by heavy and long-continued rains. When
heated with vegetable matter the product
is carbonate of calcium, and when burned
alone quieklime is formed. For these rea-
sons nitrate of calcium, as such, cannot be
obtained in the ash, but must be separated
from plants by repeated washing before
submitting them to combustion. This sub
stance, which from its high price, cannot
be classed among the practicable fertilizers,
exerts very decided influence on vege-
tation, which we will have occasion to
refer to hereafter. Phosphoric acid CON-
bines with calcium to form three phos-
pilates. OF these the most important
is the one which is found as a char
Ingredient of bones. 1t is the
white residue left after bones have
been subjected to combustion, and is some
times called the earth of bones. This
phosphate of calcium is the substance
which imparts strength and rigidity to the |
bones, where it is invariably found ready. |
made, although in lesser quantities in the
young and soft bones of young animals.
During the stages of some diseases this
phosphate of calcium is distracted from
the bones to very appreciable extent,
thus giving rise to what is known as soft.
enipg of the bones" This &c earthly phos.
phate is found in the hoofs, horns, nails,
flesh and blood of animals, and also in the
seeds of many plants, especially of the
cereal grains. Is is also found in milk, |
where it is held in solution by the Tactic
acid of the milk. In the bones of animals
phosphate of calcium is accompanied by
substance known as gelatine, and which |
may be extracted by boiling the bones in
water. This gelatine is largely used in the
of glue, and no inconsiderable |
portion of II, after being colored and ia
L II