AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 59 



NITROUS ACID. 



NITROUS acid is a compound of phlogisticated air or 

 azotic gas with pure air or oxygen. This combination takes 

 place under different circumstances, particularly by the 

 putrefa6lion and decay of animal and vegetable substan- 

 ces. As it forms, it combines either with calcareous 

 matter or alkaline salts; forming saline substances, which 

 are conducive to vegetation. 



The nitrous acid, in the table of affinities, is placed 

 next to that of the vitriolic. 



MARINE, OK MURIATIC ACID. 



i 



THIS acid is next in affinity to the nitrous, and con- 

 stitutes about one third of muriat of soda, or sea salt. It 

 consists, like all other acids, of a combination of pure air 

 or oxygen with a peculiar basis, which has not as yet 



H 2 been 



