10 MK. NICUOLS' ADDKESS. 



yet, to overcome their prejudices sufficiently to try the experiment 

 of deep ploughing upon their lands. They erroneeusly suppose 

 that the whole virtue of their lands, lies in the black mould or hu- 

 mus upon the surface, and if they go below that, and bring up 

 sand, and yellow or pale earth, and mingle with it, of course it 

 must dilute and impair its fertility. They certainly know that their 

 soils are superficial and weak enough already, without going down 

 to bring up that which cannot sustain, as they suppose, a blade of 

 grass. They reason thus because chemistry has not taught them 

 its important lessons. They are not aware that that which lies 

 deep below the mould, came from the rocks, and is rich oftentimes 

 in their mineral constituents. It only needs to be brought up to 

 the surface, so that the air and rain can reach it, to promote chem- 

 ical decomposition, and fit it for important plant aliment. 



I doubt not that oftentimes a farmer has applied gypsum to his 

 land sufiering from the want of lime, when he might have obtained 

 all that was necessary by subsoil ploughing and active tillage. 



Chemistry teaches that plants do not obtain all the elements of 

 their growth from the mingled rock dust and humus constituting 

 the soil. The atmosphere comes in for a share in rearing the 

 structure, and the aid it renders is voluntary, and entirely inde- 

 pendent of help from the husbandman. He cannot promote his 

 interests and increase his crops, by endeavors to influence atmos- 

 pheric action upon his plants. It is only through the soil that he 

 is able to do this. Plants derive their carbon, or charcoal, chiefly 

 from the air. The great bulk of all plants is charcoal, and conse- 

 quently we see how important is the aid derived from that source. 



How many of you, gentlemen, call to mind the fact, as your sit 

 around your comfortable hearth-stones in the long evenings of win- 

 ter and witness the gradual transmutation of the blazing pile of 

 wood into black lustrous charcoal, and then, by further combustion, 

 apparently into a heap of ashes? How many remember that there 

 is in the one a constituent of the very winds from which you are 

 so effectually sheltered, and in the other a portion of the soil ab- 

 stracted from your fields? I am perplexed to understand how a 

 farmer can witness these wonderful changes every day of his life, 

 and not have sufficient curiosity awakened to lead him to interro- 

 gate that beautiful science, which is competent to answer his every 

 question, and satisfy his thirst for information. 



