20 QUARTERLY JOURNAL, 



Were this the proper place, it would be interesting to carry oul 

 these views farther. But for a more extended view we must refei 

 the reader to the late works on organic chemistry and physiology 

 where they may be examined at large. 



From these facts, some practical hints may be derived, of grea' 

 importa&ce to the cultivator of the soil, and to the improving 

 and growing of stock. 



1. The amount of crops upon a given extent of soil must de 

 pend upon the amount of food they receive. The quality of thi 

 crop may, and probably does, depend upon the quality of the food 

 The excrements of animals being composed of those substance 

 which once formed the vegetable, and the bodies of animals bein| 

 the same, are of course capable of affording to plants the very foo 

 they need to bring them to the greatest perfection. And this ha 

 ever corresponded with practice, the greatest effects being show 

 when the purest animal manures are used. Let it then be remeir 

 bered, that every particle of animal matter that is wasted and nc 

 applied to the soil, is so much robbed from the productiveness of tfc ' 

 earth. If all that is taken from the soil and used for animal foe 

 were restored to it, the land would never become impoverishei 

 and in proportion as more or less is restored, in such proportic 

 will the land retain its vigor and capacity to produce more. 



2. All plants do not furnish the same animal food, nor in tl 

 same quantity. It is desirable then to adapt the kind of food 

 the effect intended to be produced. If fat is required, those.kin 

 of food which yield the most oil, and starch, &c.j and so in r 

 ference to other parts. Enough is not at present known to esta 

 lish any rules, and it is desirable that in this the practical farmi 

 would unite with the chemist in investigating the matter. 1 1 



We have but just stepped upon the threshold of science. Vf 

 believe the same of practice, especially in agriculture. Whil! 

 the whole range of arts beside has owed the proud stand they 

 present occupy to the aid of their handmaid, science, farming h( 

 presumed to go alone, and if we may believe the evidence of h 

 tory and of our own senses, has rather degenerated than improve) 

 At any rate it has advanced none. Improvements which wei 

 suggested half a century ago, are neglected, and are now just h 

 ginning to be employed. Till within a few years nothing u 

 known of the relations of animals to plants, or of plants to the s(i 



