ORGANIC ELEMENTS OF SOIL. 71 



varied, there are constant products of organic decomposition 

 in soil, which are ever the result of that process in or upon 

 the earth. These products are termed Geine. This term 

 designates a class of chemical compounds, allied by similar- 

 ity of constitution and properties. Oe is the Greek for 

 earth, and the suffix ine^ is in conformity to chemical names 

 given to those vegetable or other organic products, whose 

 independent existence has been determined j for example, 

 quinine, morphine, &c. 



It is necessary to note the difference in the products of 

 putrefaction in free or confined air. 



In free air, the chief products are water, carbonic acid 

 and ammonia. In confined air, the carbon not obtaining 

 oxygen enough to be wholly converted into carbonic acid, 

 combines with a smaller quantity and forms carbonic oxide. 

 The hydrogen, deprived of oxygen sufficient for its total 

 conversion into water, combines with carbon, and thus pro- 

 duces marsh gas, or light carburetted hydrogen, the gas of 

 street lights, while another portion of hydrogen combines 

 with the sulphur and phosphorus of the decaying body, and 

 forms those airs so offensive in putrefaction, sulphuretted 

 and phosphuretted hydrogen gases. 



In all the transformations of organic matter in soil, there 

 is ever produced an excess of hydrogen. This is a highly- 

 important fact. 



A principle is here to be stated and remembered. Hy- 

 drogen, at the instant of becoming free, in the act of being 

 born, in its nascent state, as it is called, in warm and moist 

 air, unites with nitrogen. This union produces ammonia. 

 The nitrogen of putrefying bodies is thus removed as ammo- 

 nia. Thus are removed all the nitrogen, and a portion of 

 the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen of the decaying organic 

 body. There remain the several forms of geine. 



