28 



tRdvantages of well Cultivated Farms. 



Vol. ir. 



tremely subtle fluid which produces in us the 

 sensation of heat. 



The sun is the grand source of caloric ; it 

 is afforded also from combustion, and in vari- 

 ous other ways. Thus, take a small phial 

 about half full of water, grasp it gently with 

 one hand, and from another phial pour a little 

 sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol as it is some- 

 times called, very gradually into the water. 

 The phial will become hot, which is in con- 

 sequence of the caloric disengaged from the 

 mixture. 



This subtle matter pervades the pores of 

 all known substances, most of which are ca- 

 pable of existing in three different states — 

 the solid, the fluid, and the aeriform or gase- 

 ous state ; and these three" different states de- 

 pend on the quantity of caloric which may be 

 present in any substance, at any one time. 

 The first of these, termed the solid state., de- 

 pends on the presence of a small quantity of 

 caloric; such is water in the state of ice; — 

 when the quantityof caloric or matter of heat 

 is increased to a certain degree, the body 

 passes into the second ox fluid state ; such is 

 ice or lead when melted ; and by still farther 

 increasing the quantity of caloric or heat, it 

 rises into vapor, called the aeri/brm or gase- 

 ous state, or simply gas. 



"Almost all natural bodies are susceptible 

 of existing from the mere expansive energy 

 of caloric in these three states; and the only 

 difference among them is, that some require 

 less and others a greater proportion of caloric 

 to induce these changes. Water, which 

 usually exists in our atmosphere as a fluid, 

 can fluctuate by a very slight alteration of 

 the thermometer, either into solid ice, or in- 

 to aeriform vapor. All the metals exhibit 

 the same phenomenon. If solid they melt 

 by the application of fire into a fluid mass; 

 and if that be carried to a given pitch of inten- 

 sity, they fly off" in fumes and assume the 

 gaseous state. The solid earth is not ex- 

 empt from the dominion of this universal 

 law. Flint and sand when put in the fur- 

 nace, dissolve into liquid glass; and if ex- 

 posed to a still more powerful heat, they are 

 dissipated in vapor and assume new aerial 

 ■forms. Let it, therefore, be remembered, as 

 an established principle in chemistry, that 

 when different portions of caloric enter into 

 ■combination with bodies, they pass, according 

 to the quantity, into the respective states of 

 solidity, fluidity, or aeriform, vapor." 



4-5. Gas — is any substance converted to 

 vapor by the action of caloric. 



In other words, it is any substance dis- 

 solved in caloric ; or, it is any substance re- 

 duced to the aeriform state by the action of 

 caloric. By the aeriform state it must be 

 remembered is meant a state similar to that 

 «f air, which is neither tangible or visible; 



that is, it can neither be handled with the 

 hands, nor seen with the eyes. 



It may seem strange that the hard sub- 

 stances from which we receive so many 

 knocks and bruises should in any way be 

 converted into such a state. Yet something 

 of this is seen every day. A log which it 

 would require two men to lift, on being 

 burnt, is all converted into gas, except a re- 

 siduum of ashes so small as to be collected 

 into a measure and carried by a child. So 

 in the putrefaction of an animal, the solid 

 substance left is little more than sufficient to 

 color the ground ; the rest, except some fluid 

 parts which may have sunk into the soil, is 

 all converted into gas. 



46. Alkalies — are substances of an acrid, 

 burning taste. Their most distinguishing 

 properties are 



1st, They change the blue juices of vege- 

 tables, as of violets or red cabbage to green. 



2d, they render oils missible with water, 

 thus forming soap. 



3J, They combine with acids, thereby 

 forming various kinds of salts. 



There are only three alkalies;* 1st, Po- 

 tash, or the Vegetable Alkali ; 2d, Soda, or 

 the Mineral Alkali; 3d, Ammonia, or the 

 Volatile Alkali. The two first are also 

 called Fixed Alkalies; the latter, or Am- 

 monia, is called the Volatile Alkali, because 

 it exists as a gas, and is that substance which 

 on opening a smelling bottle, so effectually 

 searches the nose and head. 



To be continued. 



Advantages of well Cultivated Farms* 



The last season, those who tilled land un- 

 der a high state of cultivation, were well re- 

 munerated for labor expended, while those 

 who tilled worn out farms, scarcely raised 

 the amount of bread stuffs, expended during 

 the summer. It is time that more attention 

 was paid to increasing the fertility of the 

 soil, and we are glad to see that the H. F. 

 & H. Agricultural Society have offered a 

 premium of $ 15 on the greatest quantity of 

 good manure, that, shall be made from the 

 first day of June, 1837, to June 1st, 1838. 

 A written description of the making will be 

 required, and an opinion of the best and least 

 expensive mode of increasing the same, re- 

 gard being had to the number and kind of 

 animals kept in the yard, stables, and pens. 



We find a few (and too few) of our farmers 

 awake to the subject, and they have resolved 

 to till less land, believing that they can get 

 larger crops ; at any rate they are satisfied 

 that a crop will be more sure on good land 



* There is a substance lately discovered, called 

 Litliia. wliicli, so far as any thini; is known of it, ap- 

 pears to possess alkaline qualities. 



