14 



To insure these very desirable results, the 

 farmer should know the nature of the crops he 

 raises, the character and constituents of the soil 

 on which they are grown, and the manures most 

 suitable to prevent exhaustion of the land ; and 

 unless he o possesses,, ,to .sppae practical extent, 

 these several kinds of knowledge, he can never 

 become' a ^\icgesg ! ftiJ['ati3; profitable; cultivator of 

 a farm. Without this knowledge, his land will 

 soon become unproductive and non-remunerative, 

 notwithstanding it may be frequently manured 

 and laboriously worked. This knowledge is 

 called Agricultural Chemistry. 



THE CONSTITUENT NATURE OF THE PRODUC- 

 TIONS OF THE SOIL. 



All forms of vegetable existences, all the pro- 

 ductions of the earth, consist of two parts, or- 

 ganic and inorganic matter; the organic part, 

 if put into the fire, burns away, the inorganic 

 part cannot be burned up. (See Appendix, 1.) 



Questions. What ought the farmer to know, in order 

 successfully and profitably to cultivate the soil ? What is 

 this knowledge called ? Of what kinds of matter do vege- 

 table productions consist? Which part is combustible? 

 Which will not burn away ? What is the part called which 

 burns ? What that which will not burn ? 



