EDITOR'S PREFACE 



TO 



THE SECOND ENGLISH EDITION. 



The former edition of this work was prepared in 

 the form of a Report on the present state of Organic 

 Chemistry. The state of a science such as this 

 could not be exhibited by a systematic treatise on 

 organic compounds, but by showing, that the science 

 was so far advanced as to be useful in its practical 

 applications. 



The work was written by a Chemist, and address- 

 ed to Chemists. The author did not flatter himself, 

 that his opinions would be so eagerly embraced by 

 agriculturists, as circumstances have shown to be the 

 case. Hence his language and style were less adapt- 

 ed for them than for those who are conversant with 

 the abstract details of chemical science. But the 

 eager reception of the work by agriculturists has 

 shown, that they possess an ardent desire to profit 

 by the aids ofiered to them by Chemistry. It, there- 

 fore, became necessary to adapt the work for those 

 who have not had an opportunity of making that 

 science a peculiar object of study. 



