‘s 
Bibliography 177 
839. The principal results which M. Payen has established very 
satisfactorily are, that the organic membrane and the matter deposited 
upon it, or the lignine, properly so called, have a different composi- 
tion, and are differently affected by chemical agents. The latter is 
attacked by alkalies and by strong acids, the former resists their ac- 
tion. ‘The former exactly accords with starch in chemical composi- 
tion, the carbon being 44 per cent., and the oxygen and hydrogen in 
the proportions to constitute water; the latter consists of 54 carbon, 
6.2 of hydrogen, and 39.8 of oxygen, containing therefore more hy- 
drogen than is required to convert its oxygen into water. “ This phe- 
nomenon accords perfectly with the recent experiments of Colin and 
Edwards, which have demonstrated that plants possess the power of 
decomposing water; and with those of Boussingault, which have 
proved that a quantity of hydrogen is fixed in the plant during vege- 
tation.” The researches of Payen in this department of science, are 
noticed in Meyen’s Report on the Progress of Physiological Botany, 
for 1839, a translation of which is commenced in the October number 
of the Annals of Natural History. Prof. Meyen seems to think the gen- 
eral results may be relied upon, but points out some sources of error. 
12. Organic Chemistry in its applications to Agriculture and 
PI ‘tology; by Justus Liesic, M. D., Ph. D., F. R. S., M.R. 1. A., 
. of Chemistry in the University of Geissen, &c. ; edited 
manuscript of the author, by Lyon Prayrarr, Ph. D. Lon- 
» Taylor & Walton.* During the last twenty years, no sci- 
ence has had more ardent devotees, or more industriously accumulated 
facts, than organic chemistry ; and name of the author of this 
treatise stands pre-eminent among its European cultivators. Expecta- 
hon has long been awakened, in the hope that some generalizations 
and ee truths would be drawn from the vast mass of facts in this 
Science, applicable to the wants of the times, and to the advancement 
of our knowledge of agriculture. Whenever this time should arrive, 
it was confidently believed that the profession of agriculture would 
receive great and permanent advancement. It is not too much to say, 
that the publication of Prof. Liebig’s Organic Chemistry of Agricul- 
ture, constitutes an era of great importance in the history of agricul- 
tural Science. Its acceptance as a standard is unavoidable, for follow- 
Ing closely in the straight path of inductive philosophy, the conclu- 
‘ions which are drawn from its data are incontrovertible. Confined 
- the limits of a short notice, we cannot more than glance at thenew 
“ews of the author on subjects of the highest importance to the agri- 
fr 
don, 
* This work is about to be republished in this country, by Messrs. Wiley & Put- 
nam, New York and Lon don, under the charge of the junior Editor of this Journal. 
Vol. xi, No, 1.—Oct.-Dec. 1840. 23 
