176 RECAPITULATION 



Oxygen, a gas, colorless, tasteless, inodorous, not 

 inflammable; supports combustion most energetically; 

 supports life, both animal and vegetable; unites with 

 nearly all other bodies, and forms oxides; most abun- 

 dant of all known substances. 



Nitrogen, colorless, tasteless, inodorous; does not 

 support combustion; does not burn itself; does not 

 maintain life. 



The great importance, and the vast diffusion of these 

 bodies. 



CHAPTER n. 



The inorganic fart of the plant. 



Consists of potash, soda, lime, magnesia, oxide of 

 iron, oxide of manganese, silica, chlorine, sulphuric 

 acid (oil of vitriol), phosphoric acid. 



1. Potash, common potash, pearlash, caustic potash. 



2. Soda, caustic soda, carbonate of soda, for wash- 



ing. 



3. Lime, quicklime, common limestone, plaster of 



paris, marls generally. 



4. Magnesia, calcined magnesia, epsom salts (sul- 



phate of magnesia). 



5. Oxide of iron, common iron rust. 



6. Oxide of manganese, commercial black oxide of 



manganese. 



7. Silica, common quartz, flint, agate, cornelian, chal- 



cedony. 



8. Chlorine, a gas; of a green color, heavy, suffo- 



cating odor ; does not burn, but some metals 

 when finely powdered, inflame in it. 



9. Sulphuric acid, common oil of vitriol. 



10. Phosphoric acid ; burn common phosphorus, a 

 white, very sour powder. 

 These are all present, in cultivated crops, though 

 usually not in large quantity. v«^ ♦ r 



