APPENDIX. 163 



be excitants or stimulants. The silicates are the flour, the salts the 

 yeast. The galvanic agency is excited by the salts, but above all, over 

 all, and controlling all, this action of soils is the living plant. The 

 influence of the last unfolds the mystery of the often repeated experi- 

 ment of growing plants in pure water. Granting the water to have been 

 chemically pure, the galvanic agency of the vegetable would decompose 

 the containing vessel. The most barren sand would be made fertile by 

 living plants. Sand containing no appreciable quantity of geine, may 

 yet from its origin from sedimentary rocks contain carbon. Wa- 

 ter it, and grow in it plants. Let these perish. They return to the 

 sand, not only organic matter, the source of geine for a new crop, but 

 various salts, of whose previous existence in the same it required the 

 most delicate chemistry to detect traces. The living plant is a consum- 

 mate analyst. This is the process nature employs. Mr. Keely, acting 

 on this principle, and following out and assisting the natural mode, has 

 opened the whole soul of raising crops. The memorable experiment 

 of the Haverhill rye-field, ought to be engraved on the thresholds and 

 lintels of every farm-house in the country.* It teaches us that salts, 

 so important in agriculture, are within the reach of every farmer. Ev- 

 ery farmer has a lime-quarry on his own land. He ought also to have 

 constantly burning a lime-kiln. The farmer has on his own grounds, 

 lime sufficient for all wants. Let all brushwood, unfit for the kitchen, 

 be burned for the ashes. But let the soot too be saved. It is too val- 

 uable to be lost in air. Look at its composition as stated by Bra- 

 connot. 



Geine 30.70 



Extractive matter and nitrogen .... 20. 



Carbonate of lime and traces of magnesia . . 14.66 



Acetate of lime ...... 5.65 



Sulphate of lime ..... 5. 



Phosphate of lime and iron .... 1.50 



Acetate of potash ..... 4.10 



Muriate of potash ..... .36 



Acetate of Ammonia ..... .20 



Acetate of Magnesia ..... .53 



Silex .95 



Carbon ....... 3.85 



Water . . . . • • • 12.50 



100. 



See Appendix E , page 113, First Report of Agriculture of Massachusetts. 



