126 ON THE FOOD OF PLANTS. 



may not the process render the remainder of 

 more avail and value, and thus create a profit 

 instead of a loss ? 



It must be remembered, that the authority of 

 chemistry rests upon this axiom, — that whatever 

 constitutes a body, or operates as an agent in its 

 construction, must be demonstrable on a chemi- 

 cal examination, both by analysis and synthesis. 

 Now it does not appear, by the different analysis 

 before explained, that any vegetable substance 

 contains nitrogene, except gum, which is the 

 produce of disease ; but, that all animal sub- 

 stances, in an undecomposed state, do contain 

 nitrogene. Therefore, — with all due deference 

 to Sir Humphry Davy, — as in a demonstration 

 by synthesis, or in the composition of vegetable, 

 from animal substances, nitrogene cannot be 

 considered as necessary, ought it not to be disen- 

 gaged and expelled from such substances as are 

 prepared for the food of plants ? And if so, — as 

 nitrogene cannot be separated, by any other 

 means than fermentation, — is it not necessary 

 that such decomposition should be effected pre- 

 vious to its application? — or that the substances 

 be so placed, that the obnoxious gases be passed 

 freely off, and that the action of decomposition 

 may not affect the roots ? It does not appear 



