12 MR. NICHOLS ADDRESS. 



atoms together, clasping one of the carbon, and thus the sable 

 bride, again married, not to one oxygen bridegroom, but to two, 

 floats off upon its bridal tour through the air. But such unnatural 

 unions must always prove sour, and of short duration ; such is the 

 result here. The united parties are acid from the start. Thus 

 combined they constitute, in fact, carbonic acid, and the unhappy 

 union continues until some beautiful plant, or flower may be, in 

 seeming pity for the parties, seizes them in its tiny embrace, and 

 with one strong effort effects their separation, sending the disunited 

 atoms of oxygen away into space, and appropriating the carbon to 

 itself, to aid in its extension and growth. When the charcoal is 

 burnt away there remains a small quantity of ashes, the mineral 

 food of the apple derived from the earth. I venture to adopt this 

 method to illustrate some of the marvellous changes incident to the 

 growth and destruction of all vegetable organism. Chemistry has 

 taught us fully respecting these transmutations and the w'hole phi- 

 losophy of plant growth ; but I must pass to consider further the 

 practical and useful information which it has afforded the agricultu- 

 rist. By the accurate and wonderful process of analysis of vege- 

 table structures and soils, it has at once pointed out the true course 

 for the farmer to pursue in order to attain the highest success in 

 his vocation. It first pointed out the materials he needed, and 

 then new^ sources of supply for the same. It has taught the farm- 

 er economy in the preservation of his fertilizers, it has infoi-med 

 him how to apply them to the soil to the best advantage. 



Guided by its teaching, there is not, there cannot be, any more 

 uncertainty as it respects results, provided those meteorological 

 agencies which are beyond the control of man are favorable, than 

 in the prosecution of any mechanical branch of industry. Unfa- 

 vorable seasons, as it respects drought, blight, &c., may be even 

 rendered more favorable by systematic, scientific husbandry. 

 Without its aid all is involved in doubt and uncertainty. The suc- 

 cessful farmer is unable to explain the reasons of his success ; the 

 unsuccessful one is ignorant of the causes of his failure. How 

 can any one of you, gentlemen, be certain that you are correct in 

 applying any single kind of manure to a soil without you first know 

 ■whether there is a deficiency of that ingredient in the same? If 

 you learn from the result of crops that there is a want of some 



