WATER AS AN AGRICULTURAL AGENT. 367 



potash, etc., and conveys them to the roots of plants, taking up the 

 soluble parts of vegetable mould as fast as the chemical changes in 

 the earth render them suited to the nourishment of plants. It also 

 absorbs gaseous compounds, such as carbonic acid, ammonia, and 

 air. *As nourishment it constitute's a large portion of the juices of 

 plants ; the woody fibre contains the elements of water, oxygen 

 and hydrogen. In the state of vapor it ministers to the growth 

 and life of plants, which have the power of absorbing the water 

 falling upon them. Dew, celebrated through all times and in every 

 tongue for its sweet influence, presents to our view a beautiful il- 

 lustration of the agency of water in nature's economy, and exhibits 

 one of those amazing adaptations by which animate and inanimate 

 nature is bound together." 



Such in vegetable economy is the iiidispensible agency of water ; 

 it is the vital fluid of all plants, upon its proper use the perfection, 

 quality, and quantity of all earth's productions depend, particu- 

 larly those intended for man's use. 



Water, in another way, subserves a valuable purpose in the pre- 

 paration of food — that of steaming and cooking. The practice of 

 steaming food, hay especially, is of comparativey recent date ; but 

 it has been been shown to be a great economizer of coarse fodder. 

 The steaming of hay and straw, and the boiling of roots and tubers 

 render them more easily assimilable and palatable, b}^ dissolving 

 their constituents, and by diluting the feed with steam, or con- 

 densed vapor, itself pure water, which not only quenches thirst 

 and supplies material for increased perspiration, but has a hy- 

 gienic character as a conservator of health. 



It is a well known fact, that of whatever may be given to barn- 

 fed animals in a raw or uncooked condition, more or less is voided 

 in an undigested state, which is as directly lost as if it had never 

 been passed through the animal. Oats, barley, and uncracked 

 corn, seen so frequently in the excreta of the horse, have furnished 

 no more nourishment than if that same amount had been thrown 

 directly into the manure heap. A careful examination, and a more 

 frequent use of the microscope, would reveal a deal of other ele- 

 ments of nutrition voided in the same undigested condition, and in 

 the same manner wasted and lost. Digested food only is nutritious. 



The woody fibre of hay, no inconsiderable part, is rejected in an 

 undigested condition. How few have any correct idea regarding 

 the quantity of this woody fibre in a ton of late cut hay. Such hay 

 is passed through the animal machine, but the woody part comes 



