26 Review of ChaptaVs Chemistry of .Agriculture. 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Chemistry applied to ^Agriculture. By John Antony 

 Chaptal, Count of Cantaloup, Peer of France, Member 

 of the Institute, &c. First American, translated from the 

 second French, edition. 1835. 12mo. pp.365. Boston. 



This work is laid before the American public as a more 

 modern and perfect treatise of agfricultural chemistry, being 

 the results of the labors and studies of an eminent French 

 chemist during* many years' experience in such pursuits. 

 Sir Humphrey Davy's Lectures were published in 1813, and 

 ten years afterwards, appeared the first edition of the pres- 

 ent work ; and, in 1829, a second edition, increased in seve- 

 ral particulars. Although almost entirely of a local charac- 

 ter, there are, nevertheless, several points of interest to ev- 

 ery agriculturist applicable to all countries ; and some sub- 

 jects, though often treated before, yet deserving renewed 

 attention. The atmosphere and its influence on vegetation; 

 the nature of soils, and their action ; the nature of manures; 

 the vegetable economy and laws relating to the physiology 

 of plants ; improvement of soil ; succession of crops ; trea- 

 tises on the products of the farm ; cultivation of the beet 

 for sugar, — are all particularly considered. One great merit 

 is its simplicity and great plainness — the reduction of philo- 

 sophical theory to simple truth. 



Chemistry, as indeed the other sciences, have been too 

 little regarded in connexion with the culture of the soil, 

 and yet thousands are the errors which a better knowledge 

 of what concerns the material on which we expend our la- 

 bor, might be avoided by a better and closer attention to 

 them. Seldom any thing but long experience, and this too 

 often by the result of costly experiments, acquaint us with 

 the nature of the soil, and what crops will best succeed on 

 this or that land ; or whether it be more or less favorable to 

 the increase of some insect or deleterious parisitic plant, 

 which effects the produce. We could wish that different 

 notions respecting this subject existed, and a yet more gen- 

 eral diff'usion of the correct and modern system of husban- 

 dry. Nor do these remarks apply only to our agricultur- 

 ists, in the common meaning of the term, but those who min- 

 ister among the more delicate productions of the garden, 

 would do well to make themselves acquainted with the se- 

 cret laws which govern the subjects of their care. Invested 

 with these, they may render the barren wilderness a garden, 



