CH. II.] THE ROOT. 99 



Carbonate of Lime 43.7 



Silica 16.5 



Vegetable Matter, Phosphate of Lime, &c. . 39.8 



100.0 



These amounts of earthy saline matters are 

 nearly as much as exist in human bones ; but if we 

 turn to the marrow, it only contains one-twentieth 

 of saline matters ; the blood only one-hundredth ; 

 muscle, only one-thirty-fourth ; yet no one will argue 

 that these saline constituents, though smaller than 

 those in -vegetables, are trivial and unimportant. 



The preceding facts shew why some saline manures 

 are generally beneficial, and often essential. An 

 important consideration, therefore, is contained 

 in the answer to the query, so often put, — How 

 should saline manures be applied? The answer 

 is, that, when practicable, they ought to be in very 

 small quantities and frequently, during the time of 

 the plant's growth. No plan can be worse than soak- 

 ing seed in a saline solution, for the purpose of giving 

 such salt to the plant of which it will be the parent. 

 It is soddening the embrj-o with a supeiiluity totally 

 useless to it, and, if it does not injure the germina- 

 tion, it will be washed away most probably before the 

 roots begin to absorb such nutriment. 



I may observe here, appropriately, that to arrive 

 at a con-ect knowledge of manures by means of expe- 



H -2 



