1846.] Text Book on Agriculture. 275 



these combine with the geic or humic, and crenic acids of the 

 decaying vegetable matters, forming soluble salts; which are 

 dissolved by the water, and presented to the living roots for 

 absorption and nourishment. While the last is ever holding in 

 contact with the leaves and flowers its unfailing supply of caibon 

 and nitrogen, from the carbonic acid and ammonia which it is 

 every moment receiving — the first from the respiration of animals 

 and combustion, and the latter from the decomposition or decay 

 of vegetable and animal matters on the earth's surface. 



And here we cannot refrain from alludins: to one of the most 

 beautiful illustrations of Divine wisdom presented in nature. 

 Every Are kindled on the surface of the earth, and every animal 

 that breathes, is constantly depriving the atmosphere of its oxy- 

 gen and supplying it with carbonic acid; while the whole vege- 

 table kingdom is as constantly appropriating the carbon of this 

 curbonic acid to itself, and emitting again the oxygen — thus for- 

 ever preserving the equilibrium, the harmony, and the activity of 

 nature's works. Of the powers of the living plant to appropriate 

 to itself the various elements of which it is composed, or, in other 

 w^ords, of the theories of assimilation, we shall speak more parti- 

 cularly in another chapter." 



Although there are some opinions advanced in the work, not 

 entirely in accordance with our own, yet we cheerfully and ear- 

 nestly recommend it to our readers and the public generally. And 

 we are glad to learn from the author that a second edition will 

 soon be issued, on larger type, and containing accurate plates of 

 each insect described in the Appendix. 



SOW W^ELL AND REAP WELL. 



Or Fireside Education, by S. G. Goodrich, author of Peter Par- 

 ley's Tales. 3(/ edition. E. H. Pease, publisher: Albany. 

 12mo. 343 pp. 



Our Journal is expressly designed for those who sow and reap; 

 not those alone, however, who literally scatter the grain broad- 

 cast over the field, and in the harvest thrust in their sickle and 

 gather the fruit of their toil and labor. There is a sowing and 

 there is a reaping in which the hand hath no part, and there are 



