84 HISTORY OF GEINE. 



lieve, that when these are so near alike, that their 

 agricultural effects would not be identical. 



While some deny the separate existence of crenic 

 and apocrenic acids, and others assert, that they are 

 identical with geine, they may be included in that ; 

 or excluding these, geine seems to be allowed on all 

 sides, and under its several forms to be identically 

 the same chemical substance, differing chiefly by its 

 being soluble or insoluble, in alkali or water. The 

 name and division adopted by the author, are not 

 therefore inapplicable to the organic part of soil, 

 whether the term geine be used generically or spe- 

 cifically, whether we " speak agriculturally or chem- 

 ically." Still, the author is quite indifferent by 

 what name the organic matter of soil is called, and 

 perhaps may be allowed to quote his remarks on this 

 subject, as published in the 3d report on the agri- 

 culture of Massachusetts, by Mr. Colman, in 1838 : 

 " Whether we consider this as a simple substance or 

 composed of several others called crenic, apocrenic, 

 puteanic, ulmic acids, glairin, apotheme, extract, hu- 

 mus or mould, agriculture ever has and probably 

 ever will, consider it one and the same thing, requir- 

 ing always similar treatment to produce it ; similar 

 treatment to render it soluble when produced — simi- 

 lar treatment to render it an effectual manure. It is 



