1846.] Theory of Agriculture. 11 



dition to supply, not only carbon, but the alkalies and alkaline 

 earths; most of which are important matters in the vegetable 

 economy. We see, too, that the state and condition is such as to 

 be well adapted to the wants of a growing vegetable; that is, in 

 such a state of union or combination as to supply food in a state 

 the best adapted for its assimilating powers. The amount of the 

 available soluble crenates and apocrenates is over and above 

 twenty tons to the acre in a depth of soil not exceeding one foot. 

 But farther; we have found in all our spring and well waters, 

 more or less of the crenates of the alkalies and alkaline earths — 

 also in our marls, and even in the stalagmites of caverns, though 

 white as snow, the same substance. A matter, then, which is so 

 generally diffused, so abundant in soils and in waters, and withal so 

 well adapted, by its composition, to the wants of vegetation, can- 

 not be without its use and influence in the vegetable kingdom. 

 Nay, farther, we say that the common-sense view of this subject, 

 we believe the right one, the most philosophical and most agree- 

 able to known facts. 



Dr. Jackson informs us that he has used the organic salts with 

 great success in the cultivation of plants; that they promote in a 

 remarkable manner the growth of vegetables. Here we have 

 proof direct of their influence upon vegetation. 



We should state in greater fullness Dr. Jackson's views of the 

 use and function of the organic acids, or rather salts. But as they 

 are found detailed in his Rhode Island and New-Hampshire Re- 

 ports, and also in President Hitchcock's Report of Massachusetts; 

 and as we expect something farther from him, we do not intend 

 to dwell upon this part of the subject now. We will only extract 

 a few paragraphs from a letter just received from him, in which 

 he alludes to the vegetable compounds. He says: — " Crenic acid 

 probably is always combined with lime in your district, as it is 

 often here. It is a valuable manure, but is not so rich in nitrogen 

 as the apocrenic. Crenic acid contains 6 per cent of nitrogen; 

 apocrenic 15 per cent. Crenate of lime is soluble; apocrenate 

 nearly insoluble, but is readily decomposable by the alkaline car- 

 bonates. Organic manures disengage carb. ammonia which de- 



