0^7 



PREFACE. 



The reasons which have induced me to pub- 

 lish the following treatise are, a desire to sup- 

 ply a want extensively present amongst Agri- 

 culturists, for such general knowledge con- 

 nected with chemistry as may assist them in 

 their various operations, and also the belief 

 that no work of the kind at present exists, in 

 which the subject chosen is either so fully ex- 

 plained or so well adapted for general perusal. 



Until a very recent period, great doubt has 

 existed amongst all writers on Agricultural 

 Chemistry, as to the manner in which plants 

 assimilate the matter composing their struc- 

 ture, not to mention the source from which 

 these matters are derived. In the following 

 pages I have endeavoured to explain these 

 hitherto mysterious operations of nature, in 

 such a way as to be of easy comprehension to 

 all who will take the trouble to investigate the 

 subject. 



I must, however, disclaim all merit to my- 

 self for any discoveries on the subject, all the 

 knowledge I possess has been derived from the 

 works of Davy, Liebig, Daubeny and John- 

 son ; and to all those who may wish to pursue 



m3626^3 



