503 



tiliove. \V<? have reason to tliiiik, therefore, that carbonate of ammonia is the trne 

 natural aj^ent for the sohition in the soil, of iron, phosphoric acid, silica, lime, and 

 magnesia, that is found in that particular state which is the ohject of <Hir study. If 

 I add that farm manure, treated in like manner as tlie soil, skives all the points com- 

 parable to the anunoniacal solution of this black soil, I shall have pointed out the 

 principal results of my analytical researches. 



It uo\y remains to examine how this solution of jihosphates, silica, lime, «&c., behaves 

 in the nutrition of ve,<ietables and the inlluence exerted by their presence or abseiKje 

 in soils bavins; otlu^r i)arts identical. I have undertaken, for this object, direct experi- 

 ments, the results of which I have the ho.nor to communicate to the ac;|iiLMny, what- 

 ever u\ay l)e the end. I shj'.ll now endeavor to shovi' how tlu' black solnlion extracted 

 from the soil behaves in a dvalizer. In the interior vessel I i»laced asidatiim of Idack 

 matter, giviuf;- by calcination ^)'.i per cent, of mineral residue, (compared with the 

 weights of dried idack matter.) After thirty-six hours the exterior liciuid, (distilled 

 ■water,) which had remained entirely colorless, was evaporated and the residue analyzed. 

 The latter, which contained no carbonaceous matters, was composed of phosphates of 

 iron, man5;anese, lime, magnesia, and a small quantity of the black solution of soil, 

 less the organic substances. The liquid of the interior vessel was evaporated, and the 

 residue, calcined, gave but 8 per cent, of ash ; 8.3 per cent, of the mineral elements 

 having therefore ]iassed through the membrane. It seems to mo to result in this: Ist. 

 That the mineral elements in question (phosphoric acid, iron, lime, magnesia, &c.' are 

 iu a state directly assimilable by the vegetables, or that they may bo more or less 

 absorbed by the roots, yd. That the organic matter of the humus is not absorbed 

 and renuuns iu the soil. 



It follows from all the facts recorded in my memoir, 1st. That fertile soils contain 

 the nutritive elements xtnder the form offered in farm manure. 2d. That the fertility 

 •f a soil is intimately connected with the richness in the mineral elements aud organic 

 nnatter soluble in the ammonia which it contains. 3d. That the organic substances 

 are in nature the vehicle of mineral plant-food, which they extract from the soil in 

 order to present them under a form immediately assimilable by the roots of vegetables. 



Scientific notes. — Professor Eoscoe, in a recent lecture, gives the 

 results of his observations on the sun's rays. The intensity of solar 

 heat reaches its maximum some time after the meiiUian, but the chemical 

 rays have their highest force at noon. The chemical intensity of the 

 solar rays appears to depend entirely on their api)roach to the vertical 

 direction, and therefore liave equal intensities at equal distances on each 

 side of the meridian. The chemical power of sun-light also varies with 

 ihe place of observation iu a manner which cannot be Jlccounted for by 

 the difference in latitude. Professor Koscoe gave the results of measure- 

 ments made at Kew, at Lisbon, and at Para. At Kew the chemical inten- 

 sity was represented by 94.5, at Lisbon by 110, and at Para by 313. A 

 hazy atmosphere appears to cause the absorption of the cliemical rays 

 in y remarkable degree. This would appear to demand a clear atmos- 

 phere for the healthy condition aud rapid growth of vegetation. 



Influence of alcohol on animal heat. — The old idea that alcoholic 

 drinks heighten the temperature of the body has received numer- 

 ous contradictions in recent times. C. Biuz (N. Eepert. Pharm., 

 xxi, 116, 122) communicates the results of experiments performed by 

 Dr. Mainzer'on himself aud on another healthy individual of strong 

 constitution. The experiments were carefully performed, avoiding all 

 possible sources of fallacy. Dr. M., in making observations on himself, 

 lay in bed lightly covered, and determined the temperature by means 

 of a very delicate thermometer, the indications of which were read off 

 eveiy filteen minutes. The alcohol was taken between 7 aud 10 in the 

 morning, 3 and 7 iu the alternoon, and 9 and 12 in the evening. 

 The alcohol (98 per cent.) was diluted with thrice its bulk of water, and 

 the quantity varied from 15 to 80 cubic centimeters. As the result of 

 his observations, Dr. Mainzer concludes that there is no appreciable 

 alteration in the temperature when alcohol is taken iu the above doses. 



Cnliivation of ilie chicJwna-irees in Java. — The Journal d6 Pharma- 

 cie et de Ckimie lor October says: ''In a letter from M. Van Gorkom, 



