PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 515 



the requirements of an enlightened system, a more difficult 

 task awaits the intelligent husbandman, in the proper adapta- 

 tion of manures to the different crops to be cultivated. This 

 is a matter of great moment, as the highest success in his call- 

 ing will essentially depend upon the degree of intelligence, 

 skill, and persevering industry which shall be made tributary 

 thereto. But apart from all considerations of material interest 

 merely, it must not be forgotten that he, who, in this enlightened 

 age, should persist in treating every crop with an unvarying 

 compost, will soon come to be viewed much in the same light 

 with the medical practitioner who should always prescribe one 

 and the same remedy, without regard, in any particular case, 

 either to the nature of the disease or the idiosyncrasy of his 

 patient. In order, however, to attain any desirable success in 

 the way of such adaptation, the aids of science must be in- 

 voked. They must be sought chiefly, perhaps, in the first 

 place, for the purpose of ascertaining the chemical composition 

 of the plants to be grown. This is essential, since the elements 

 of which they are individually composed, are identical, in kind, 

 with those which form their peculiar and appropriate nourish- 

 ment. They must be sought, in the next place, in order to 

 reveal the sources whence such nourishment can best be de- 

 rived. To give, in few words, a partial illustration of this, I 

 would remark that analytic chemistry has shown, with reference 

 to Indian corn, for instance, that the principal substances, — 

 those which it most concerns the farmer to know, — entering 

 into its composition are, potash, soda, magnesia, phosphorus, 

 silica, sulphur, and nitrogen. And in doing this, it has also, 

 at the same time, indirectly shown that these constitute its ap- 

 propriate food, and hence are indispensable, in some form, to 

 its perfect growth and development. The entire absence of 

 either would prove fatal to the crop ; and a redundance of the 

 rest, would not compensate for an inadequate supply of any 

 single one. So, if I mistake not, are we instructed to believe. 

 Now potash, soda, magnesia, &c., or any combinations of 

 them with acids, are not different things here from what they 

 are in the county of Bristol, or anywhere else. They are the 

 same everywhere. All composts for corn, then, whether de- 

 signed for the soils of Plymouth County or for those of any 

 other, should be adapted to supply it with appropriate food ; 



