No. 105.] 49 



That portion of vegetables which escapes into the air when they 

 are burnt, in the form of vapor and gas, is denominated their organic 

 elements. The word "organic" is used, because the things to 

 which it is applied, form the tissues of the roots, stems, leaves and 

 seeds of plants as well as their starch, sugar, oil and gum. These 

 substances abound in nature in a disorganized and mineral form, in 

 water, air and in combination with crystalized and uncrystalized 

 rocky masses in the earth. When simple and separate, they are 

 found to be only four elementary bodies, called carbon, oxygen, 

 hydrogen and nitrogen, or azote. In 100 pounds of potatoes, there are 

 99 pounds of these elements, of water and air. Of the 99 pounds of 

 organic matter in 100 of potatoes, 75 are water, which can be expelled 

 by simply drying the tubers, eleven and three-quarter pounds are 

 oxygen and hydrogen, or water in a solid form, ten and three-quar- 

 ter pounds are carbon, and one and a half pounds nitrogen or azote. 



The account will stand thus : 



In 100 lbs. of potatoes there are of 



Water, 75 lbs. 



Carbon, 10 lbs. and 12 oz. 



Oxygen and hydrogen, 11 do 12 do 



Nitrogen, 1 do 8 do 



Ash-rainerals, 1 do do 



*Total, 100 



As three-fourths of the matter in a potato is simple water ; and Hi 

 pounds of the other 25, are water in a solid form, combined with car- 

 bon to make starch and woody fibre, aad with both carbon and nitro- 

 gen to form the other organic compounds ; and as water, carbon and 

 nitrogen exist in the atmosphere, and fall in rain, snow, and dew, in 

 vast quanti ties, wemight almost infer that potatoes may be raised at 

 a very small expense, if we only knew a little more about the things 

 that unite to make this article of food, and the laws that govern their 

 union. Let us first acquire the lacking knowledge, and then apply it 

 to the production of this most valuable crop. 



Suppose a farmer had 100 pounds of the minerals contained in the 

 urine and dung of a cow while feeding on timothy hay ; would the 



* Boussingault's Rural Economy, p. 348. 

 [Senate, No. 105.] 4 



