No. 11. 



Whij and Because. 



331 



from {he ruptured sap-vessels of the plant ,• and 

 althouoh the ruptures may be occasioned by 

 a contraction or obstruction of the vessels by 

 atmospheric influence; the over-fulness or 

 over-luxuriance of the plant produced by sur- 

 feit ; or the being glutted with rank and un- 

 wholesome food, and its incapacity of di- 

 gestion, and unhealthy obstructions render 

 it more liable to such injuries; and may, 

 tlierefore, be considered as the general cause 

 of the disease, blight or rust. 



I have planted wheat on a rank compost of 

 dung, which from its first apppearance in the 

 autumn, during its growth in the winter and 

 in the spring, maintained excessive luxu- 

 riance, but which was ultimately so reduced 

 by rust as to be rendered weak, and incapa- 

 ble of bringing its seed to perfection. At 

 the same time, and close alongside, I also 

 planted wheat in a pure and sweet sand, and 

 supplied it with a solution or infusion of rot- 

 ten dung by way of food ; this never appeared 

 half so luxuriant as the other, but the stalks 

 or straw grew perfectly healthy, and free 

 from disease, and the grain was of good 

 quality. 



I would urge upon your numerous readers 

 a serious consideration of the above remarks : 

 they are upon a subject little understood, but 

 which deserves the examination of every 

 agriculturist throughout the Union. The 

 great diversity of opinioa on this subject of 

 might, must have arisen from the fact, that 

 the effect has been mistaken for the cause, 

 and whilst that error continues, there will 

 be plenty of crops of rusted wheat — will 

 our friends look out for them, as the almanacs 

 say, now about. 



Jacob List. 

 May 28, 1840. 



Why and Because. 



Curiosity is one of the most prominent 

 traits of the human mind. The little urchin, 

 almost with his first words, asks " why is 

 this or that ]" And in riper years, this spirit 

 of inquiry does not cease. — Even the hoary- 

 headed sire, w^ith his trembling lips, asks 

 " luhy is it*?" 



To cherish this spirit of inquiry, this ra- 

 tional curiosity, is one of the happiest means 

 of diffusing knowledge, and of causing the 

 great mass of community to be enlightened 

 and intelligent. 



This is the object at which we aim. As 

 one means of obtaining it, we shall continue 

 a series of questions under the head of " why 

 and because.'''' 



All the phenomena of the material world, 

 are explained by the principles of Natural 

 Philosophy, (using the terra as hereafter de- 

 fined.) 



We shall first answer a scries of questions 

 depending upon the princi[)les of Chemistry. 

 After that we may take up Mechanical Phi- 

 losophy. Our course will be, first to state 

 and explain the principle, and then propound 

 such questions as are answered by it. .So 

 that, whoever follows us through the whole 

 series, will have as good a knowledge of 

 practical Chemistry, as can be obtained by 

 a short course of reading without the illus- 

 trations of a Laboratory. 



For purposes which may appear hereafter, 

 we shall preface the whole by a few defini- 

 tions. 



1st. Philosophy. 



The word, Philosophy, is derived from two 

 Greek words, (phileo, [to love,] and sophia, 

 [wisdom,]) and signifies the luve of wisdom. 

 It is the general term used to denote the 

 reason of things ; or an investigation of the 

 causes of all the phenomena of mind or 

 matter. 



Thus, the object of Philosophy is to as- 

 certain facts, or truths respecting natural 

 objects. 



The field of Nature is so vast, that no 

 created mind can range through its whole 

 extent. This has led to the division of 

 Philosophy into distinct sciences. These 

 are again subdivided into lesser portions, 

 bearing to each other a beautiful and striking 

 resemblance. 



1. That branch of Philosophy, which makes 

 us acquainted with God, is called Theology. 



2. That which treats of man as a moral 

 being, is called Ethics, or Moral Philosophy. 



3. That which treats of mind, is called 

 Metaphysics, or Intellectual Philosophy. 



4. That which treats of matter, is called 

 Physics, or Natural Philosophy. 



Thus we have the whole range of Philoso- 

 phy divided 'ixiio four distinct branches — the- 

 first teaching us the existence of an uncreated, 

 eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, 

 benevolent Being, from natural objects, hence 

 called iVa/wra/ Theology — the second teaching 

 us our relation to God and each other as- 

 moral beings, unfolding to us the immutable 

 principles of right and wrong — the third 

 making us acquainted with that something 

 within us, which thinks and wills, remem- 

 bers and reasons, loves and hates, hopes and 

 fears, enjoys and suffers, which we call mind 

 or intellect — the fourth making us acquainted 

 with the laws and phenomena of the mate- 

 rial world. 



Physics, or Natural Philosophy, is agaia 

 subdivided into three branches, called Natural 

 History, Mechanical Philosophy, and Chemical 

 Philosophy. 



The first branch, viz : Natural History, 

 makes us acquainted with the form, structure 



