1846.] Operation of Sept on on Plants and Animals. 319 



munication as published in the transactions of the old State Ag- 

 ricultural Society of New York, for 1798, vol 1, p. 245.] 



The letter which you wrote me from Lancaster, on the 5lh 

 of June, would not have remained unanswered so long, had I 

 not been engaged in making a tour through the state of New 

 York, by an appointment of an agricultural society, which I was 

 prevailed upon to accept. You observe that gypsum has been 

 found in Pennsylvania near Lake Erie, in laige quantity; and 

 I have the satisfaction to inform you, I have received beau- 

 tiful speciments of transparent lamellated gypsum, said to be 

 found plentifully in Onondaga county, in the state of New York. 

 The powder of gypsum does w^onders in the interior part of our 

 country; for I know not whether I should be extravagant if I 

 told you that the proper use of it doubled the productions of the 

 land. 



But I am not disposed, at this time, to discus the subject of 

 gypsum with you. There is another manure, which, though 

 exceedingly abundant and active, has been strangely overlooked 

 by most persons. On account of its connection with the life and 

 health of plants, and the diseases and death of animals, it merits 

 an eminent share of attention. Some observations and reflec- 

 tions on this subject, which occurred to me during my late ex- 

 pedition, shall form the remaining part of this reply to your last. 



In my letter to Chancellor Livingston, of February, 20, 1796, 

 an attempt was made to shew that plants had the power of de- 

 stroying pestilential fluids, and of rendering the atmosphere, 

 which had been contaminated by them, healthy. It was stated, 

 that the septon (azote) was taken up as a nutrient material, and 

 retained in the vegetable economy: while the oxygene was dis- 

 charged, and, in company with caloric and light, renewed the le- 

 spirable portion oi the atmosphere. 



I shall now prosecute the inquiry a little further, and go into 

 some practical details relative to this sort of manure. This task 

 1 the more readily undertake, as I find the experienced and ac- 

 curate Mr. Kirwan, a copy of whose valuable production has 

 been sent us from the British board of agriculture, has made no 

 mention whatever of the septous principle (azote) as a manure. 

 (The manures most applicable to the various sorts of soils, &c. 

 London, 1766.) This letter, then, may be considered as a 

 supplement to Mr. Kirwan's pamphlet. 



What I have to remark will be comprised under three heads: 

 1. That animal manures contain septon (azote.) 2. That plants 

 nourished by such manures, contain it also; and, 3. That hence 

 may be derived a principle elucidating the use and operation of 

 such manures. 



