INTRODUCTION. XIX 



These laws of organization have, then, set the 

 bounds, over which science has not yet been able to 

 pass. She has, however, opened to our view some sub- 

 lime pages of the book of nature ; and she has made 

 many and useful applications of their contents. 



The living plant, fixed by its root to an immovable soil, 

 has no power of motion to enable it to seek its support 

 from distant substances. It derives all its nourishment 

 from the earth and air by which it is surrounded. These 

 aliments are elaborated in the organs of the plant. They 

 are there decomposed and* combined with its elements, 

 in a regular and uniform manner. With the dead plant, 

 the case is widely different. Upon that, other bodies 

 exercise an action entirely physical. When organization 

 ceases to modify their effects, the same agents, such as 

 air, water, and heat, which assisted it in performing its 

 functions whilst living, concur powerfully in decompos- 

 ing it when deprived of vitality ; and complete disorga- 

 nization can only be prevented by secluding it entirely 

 from the contact and action of these bodies. 



It is at this period, that chymistry can exercise its 

 power with full effect. She knows the elements that 

 enter into the composition of the dead plant ; she knows 

 the various degrees of affinity by which they are united, 

 and can predict with certainty the changes which will 

 follow from the action of those external agents, which 

 she can modify at her will. 



From the observation of these circumstances, it is my 

 opinion, that the knowledge of chymistry can, with ad- 

 vantage, be applied to the labors of the agriculturist. I 

 believe, that, by a better acquaintance with the bodies 

 subject to his management, by uniting well-established 



