DIVISION 1. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PLANT. 

 CHAPTER 1. 



THE VOLATILE PAET OF PLANTS. 



v ! 

 DISTINCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS. 



ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MATTER. All matter may 

 be divided into two great classes Organic and Inorganic. 



Organic matter is the product of growth, or of vital 

 organization, whether vegetable or animal. It is mostly 

 combustible, i. e., it may be easily set on fire, and burns 

 away into invisible gases. Organic matter either itself 

 constitutes the organs of life and growth, and has a pecu- 

 liarly organized structure, inimitable by art, is made up 

 of cells, tubes or fibres (wood and flesh) ; or else is a 

 mere result or product of the vital processes, and desti- 

 tute of this structure (sugar and fat). 



All matter which is not a part or product of a living 

 organism is inorganic or mineral matter (rocks, soils, 

 water, and air). Most of the naturally-occurring forms 

 of inorganic matter which directly concern agricultural 

 chemistry are incombustible, and destitute of anything 

 like organic structure. 



By the processes of combustion and decay, organic 

 matter is disorganized or converted into inorganic matter, 

 while, on the contrary, by vegetable growth inorganic 

 matter is organized, and becomes organic, 

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