310 GLOSSARY. 



J^eutral salt, a substance, formed by the union of an acid with some 

 base, as an alkali, an earth, or a metallic oxide, in such proportions 

 as to saturate both the base and the acid. 



JVight soil, ordure, the contents of privies ; so called, because gener- 

 ally removed in the night. 



JVitrate of potash, saltpetre, nitre. 



JVitrates, salts formed by the combination of any base with nitric acid. 



JVltric acid, a strong and powerful acid, composed of nitrogen and 

 oxygen, and usually obtained by distilling nitre and sulphuric acid 

 together. 



JVitrogen, see Azote. 



A'^itrous acid, an acid somewhat similar to, but weaker than, nitric 

 acid. 



JsTitrous salts, compounds, formed by the combination of nitrous acid 

 with some base. 



JVovice, a person unacquainted with a business. 



J^utrient, nutritive, nourishing. 



O ne-bout-ridges , the ridges thrown together in ploughing one bout. 



Orchard grass, cock's-foot grass ; a species of the genus Dactylis. 



Organic Matters, animal or vegetable matters, in a greater or less 

 state of decay. 



Organic Remains, the remains of animal or vegetable bodies, found 

 in the earth, petrified, or imbedded in rocks. 



Out-croppings, the appearance at the surface of the edges of rocks. 



Oxalic acid, the acid found in sorrel. 



Oxide, any substance combined with oxygen, in a proportion not suf- 

 ficient to produce acidity ; rust of metals. 



Oxide of iron, the rust of iron ; a compound of iron and oxygen. 



Oxidize, to combine oxygen with a body without producing acidity. 



Oxygen, a simple substance, being one of the component parts of 

 water and of atmospheric air ; vital air. 



Oxygen gas, oxygen converted into gas by combining with caloric. 



Pabulum, food, support. 



Pan, the hard, unbroken stratum of earth below the mould, or culti- 

 vated soil. 



Parasitical plants, those which take root, and grow upon other plants. 



Paring, cutting off the surface. 



Parsley, a plant cultivated for herbage and culinary purposes. 



Pea-stubble, the ground where peas have been raised. 



Peaty Soils, those of morasses, swamps, &c. To be entitled to this 

 application, they should consist, according to Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 of one half vegetable matter. 



Pellicle, a thin skin, which forms on the surface of saline and other 

 liquids, when boiled down to a certain strength. 



Perennial, lasting a year ; perpetual. 



Perennial Plants, those that do not generally flower the first year, 

 but die down to the ground, and grow up again the next Spring, 

 and so on, for a number of years, as rhubarb, horse-radish, &c. 



Permeable, capable of penetration or of being penetrated ; easily pen- 

 etrated. 



Phosphate, a salt, formed by a combination of phosphoric acid with an 

 earth, as lime ; an alkali, as soda ; or a metal, as lead. 



