108 Strictures on the views of Dr. Seller. [Feb., 



the resolutions upon the same grounds. Mr. Senator Clark, 

 though a friend to the measures proposed, considered that in the 

 present condition of the State it was inexpedient to press the 

 Legislature on the subject of pecuniary aid — this view was also 

 taken by Mr. Wadsworth. Mr. Mack advocated the resolu- 

 tions and spoke of the flourishing agricultural schools in Europe, 

 and especially those of Scotland and Ireland. Several other gen- 

 tlemen participated in the discussion not dissenting from the spir- 

 it of the resolutions, but questioning the expediency of passing the 

 resolutions formaly at the present time ; especially when the So- 

 ciety would be obliged to ask the Legislature to continue its aid 

 to the State and County Societies. 



The resolutions were finally passed in a modified form, by which 

 it was designed to express the hopes and wishes of the Society 

 ultimately ; rather than with the expectation of effecting immed- 

 iately the establishment of an institution which they contemplated. 



STRICTURES ON THE VIEWS OF DR. SELLER 



In regard to the Exhaustion of the Organic Matter of the Soil in 

 the JVutrition of Plants. 



On the 13th of February, 1845, Dr. Seller examined the views 

 of Liebig in an essay read l3efore the Botanical Society of Edin- 

 buro-hjin which he sustains the now Baron's opinions on the nature 

 of the food of plants. The following condensed extracts from this 

 essay will give the reader an idea of the character of the doctrines 

 of this distinguished chemist as stated by Dr. Seller: 



" It is represented," says Dr. Seller, " that the food of plants 

 must be derived from the inorganic kingdom, if we would avoid 

 certain disastrous consequences which would follow, provided their 

 food was derived from the organic kingdom." Thus, Dr. S. cal- 

 culates the annual conversion of the carbon of organic matter into 

 inorganic carbonic acid at not less than 600,000,000 tons; and 

 infers, on the most favorable aspect of the amount of soil over the 

 earth's surface,that such an annual loss could not be withstood be- 

 yond 6000 years ; and, on a less exaggerated assumption of its 

 amount probably very near tlie truth, that the waste would absorb 

 the whole of the existing organic matter of the soil in about 740 

 years. Dr. S. contends that the truth of these conclusions remains 

 unaltered, even if it be conceded that much of the carbon of plants 

 is drawn, not from the organic matter of the soil, but from the in- 

 organic carbonic acid of the atmosphere, unless some other 

 source of hydrogen and oxygen be at the same time admitted. 



He therefore regards Liebig's views of the inorganic nature of 

 the food of plants as supported, not merely by many special facts 



