486 



^'EW EXGIAXD FARMER. 



Oct. 



go. Bv this tenu is meant the division of 

 oompound bodies into the siuipU> substanees of 

 ■which they are compounded. There are two 

 kinds of analysis, the proiimate and ultimate. 

 Bv proximate analysis is meant the separation 

 of bodies into the more obvions and sensible 

 substances of which they arc composed. By 

 the proximate analysis of a plant, it is i-educed 

 to woodv tibre, sug:ir. staivh. siluten, albumen, 

 oil. resin, coloring matter. i!cc. These sub- 

 stances are called proximate elements. By 

 the ultimate analysis these proximate elements 

 ajv reduced to cjirbon. oxygen, hydrogen, ni- j 

 trogen. phosphorus, «S:c. These are called ul- 

 timate elementji, because the reduction can be ! 

 carried no tarther. and we have reached the 

 simplest or ultimate substances which enter 

 into the composition of the several parts of the 

 plant. 



Syxthksis is the opposite of Analysis. It , 

 is derived from two Greek words which me.in 

 to put together. It means to reconstruct by 

 putting together the substances of which a 

 compound body is composed ; to re-unite the 

 separated elements in their proper propor- 

 tions. 



Chemical ArrnaTY is that property which 

 disposes bodies to seize upon .and unite with 

 each other, forming new bodies entirely dis- 

 tinct from either of them before they were 

 united. If also keeps them united until some 

 substance is presented which has a stronger 

 alhnity for one of them than they have for 

 each "other. When this happens, a divorce 

 t.akes place between the substances that had 

 been previously married, and a new union fol- 

 lows, imder tlie influence of this same law of 

 atfinitv between the new substance presented 

 and one of the others, while the remaining one 

 is left in a widowed condition, and ready for a 

 new union. Thus, if to a solution of sulphate 

 of iron, which is sulphuric acid combined with 

 oxide of iron, you add a quantity of potash, 

 the sulphuric acid, having a stronger affinity 

 for potash than it has for the oxide of iron, 

 will leave the oxide of iron and unite with the 

 potash, forming sulphate of potash, and the 

 oxide of iron will be left in the form of a 

 brown powder, or rust. 



SonTTiox. — ^Vhen a solid body is dissolved 

 in a liquid, so as .to become clear and trans- 

 parent, it is called a solution. In this case. 

 no chemical union takes place, but merely a 

 division of the particles of the solid body, 

 which are diffused in the liquid. The particles 

 are so minutely divided that they are not per- 

 ceptible by the eye. The change that has 

 taken place is mechanical, not chemical. 



SOLVEXT. — Any tluid that will perfectly dis- 

 solve a body is called a solvent. Water will 

 dissolve gum. but it will not dissolve resin. 

 Alcohol will dissolve resin, but will not dis- 

 solve gum. ^Vater then is a solvent of gum : 

 alcohol is a solvent of resin. In most cases 

 the power of solvents is limited ; that is, they 



will dissolve only a certain proportion. If 

 more is added, it eirher falls to the bottom or 

 renders the thiid turbid; because the particles 

 are imperfectly divided and merely tloat about 

 in the solvent. 



Pi!ECiriTATiox. — If to a solution of any 

 solid anotiier body is added, that causes the 

 particles of the solid to separate from the 

 liquid and fall to the bottom, these particles 

 are said to be precipitated, and the process is 

 called precipitation ; and the substance which 

 thus falls to the bottom is called a precipitate. 



Concord. Miiss.. Aug. '2o, 18G7. R. 



[ 



For the AVir Enghuid Farmer. 

 NEED OF BETTER FARMING. 



I am not a farmer, and do not presume to 

 instruct members of that most ancient craft. 

 I simply seek for intbrmation. 



I have seen a field of which one portion 

 produced b.'-.rely a half a ton of hay to the 

 acre, while another portion yielded three half 

 tons or more per acre. 1 said to myself, 

 somethint;: is wrong here. If that soil is good 

 for three half tons, wherefore is the owner con- 

 tent with one-third that amount ? Is it good 

 husbandry or patriotic ? 



"We have not time to break up the whole 

 piece." Have not time to cultivate your land ? 

 Wherefore, then, have you the land? The 

 earth is given fbr the support of God"s crea- 

 tures, and are you guiltless if simply to be the 

 proud possessor of broad acres, you hold on 

 to that which you cannot use ? 



"We cannot afibrd to manure highly and 

 farm thoroughly." Do you really mean to 

 say that skill, intelligence and the use of cap- 

 ital are thrown away in the care of the soil .'' 

 If so. yours is the only craft of which that can 

 be tnjly affirmed. 



Where is the farmer who can truly say he 

 gives to each and every acre of his farm 

 the attention necessary to develop their best 

 and entire resources ? Yet why stop short of 

 that point ? I know of one farm, not a bad 

 specimen either, where field after field is 

 scraped over year in and y?ar out at the low- 

 est possible rate of production. The man 

 bought his land and paid for it, and is content 

 with reaping but one-third the proper crop. 

 What would be thought of one who should erect 

 a ten thousand dollar dam across Connecticut 

 River and then occupy the whole with a one- 

 horse shingle shop ? You would say it was a 

 foolish operation. Is he wise who avails him- 

 self of but one-third the "power" of his farm? 

 Yet I fear there are many such. I know farms, 

 which I think could be divided into several 

 parts and each part yield a profit equal to that 

 of the whole, as noi* carried on. 



This whole matter may admit of explana- 

 tion, which will show that everything is done 

 rightly, but it looks otherwise to me. It seems 

 unpatriotic in this, that land is occupied that is 

 not adequately improved ; thereby depriving 



