ON WATER FROM PEAT AND SOIL. 379 



Plants begin to grow in warm weather, at this 

 time ammonia is formed ; it is at this time that 

 the organic matter decays, and in its approach 

 to inorganic matter, passes through the stage of 

 ammonia. In doing so, it gives food and vigour 

 to vegetation. 



I mentioned in another paper, that whenever 

 we examine the wells near cess pools, we get 

 nitric acid. This is a further action of the same 

 principle which produced ammonia, it is a further 

 remove from organic nature. This is what occurs 

 in nitre beds, and the same, of course, must occur 

 in the neighbourhood of all heaps of manure, and 

 in soils when decomposing. Vegetation must 

 prevent the formation of nitric acid. The origin 

 of ammonia on the hills is a curious point. If 

 it comes from the atmosphere, it is, perhaps, 

 merely a part of the same process which makes 

 nitric acid, and the one is not more wonderful 

 than the other. A very porous soil influences it 

 greatly. This shows us the value of turning up 

 land, and at the same time of draining, which is 

 not a mere removal of water, but a passage of 

 air, and of a liquid stream of food. 



The peat-mould, Mulder has shown to be a salt 



