CHAPTER I. 

 AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



EXPLANATION OF TERMS. 



i. A BODY, that is constituted of one kind of matter 

 only, is called an element 



2. One that is composed of two elements, is a com- 

 pound^ and is sometimes called a binary compound^ ioi 

 distinguish it from compounds containing more than 

 two elements. 



3. If a body consist of three elements, it is called a 

 ternary compound ; if of four, a quaternary compound. 

 Binary implies two-fold ; ternary^ three-fold, and qua- 

 ternary^ four-fold. 



4. Thus, iron being constituted of but one kind of 

 matter, is an element ; water being composed of two, 

 is a binary compound ; epsom salt, composed of three, 

 is a ternary compound ; and alum, of four, is a quaier* 

 nary compound. 



