Bibliography. 189 



3. Lectures on the application of Chemistry and Geology to Agrictil- 

 ture. Part II, on the Inorganic Elements of Plants. By J. F. W. John- 

 ston, M.A., F.R. S., &c. &c. New York, Wiley & Putnam, 1843. 

 (American edition,) 12mo. pp. 175. — Just one year since, we gave (Vol. 

 xlii, p. 187) our favorable opinion of the first part of Prof. Johnston's 

 Lectures. It is therefore unnecessary to repeat those remarks here, which 

 are only confirmed by the character of the present portion of the work. 



According to the present state of our knowledge on this subject, the 

 inorganic constitution of the soil and of plants, is a most essential and 

 important branch of scientific agriculture. It is evident that no plant 

 contains any inorganic element not contained in the soil in which it 

 grows ; it is certain that these inorganic constituents, although present in 

 small proportion, in some way not very well understood, are essential to 

 the growth and perfection of the plants containing them. An accurate 

 knowledge, therefore, of the composition of the ashes of all agricultural 

 plants is highly important, in order to determine if a given soil contains 

 all that is essential to the growth of any particular species or family. 

 Hence the importance of correct analyses of soils, in order to a judicious 

 and effective application of manures and alteratives. Wheat cannot 

 grow and perfect its fruit, without phosphate of lime ; the double phos- 

 phate of lime and magnesia is essential to potatoes, and hence bran, 

 which is peculiarly rich in this salt, is a very valuable manure for the po- 

 tato. One of the most remarkable features of recent scientific progress, 

 is the wonderful amount of talent and research which has within three 

 or four years past been so successfully applied to the improvement of agri- 

 culture. A short time since, and no agricultural chemistry could be 

 found, save the original treatises of Davy and Chaptal, and agricultural 

 geology was an unknown term. Now, the shelves of the bookseller are 

 crowded with new publications of this character, and every news-letter 

 and advertiser contains some new announcement of agricultural works, 

 while the strangest and most desirable part of the phenomenon is, that 

 the demand is equal to the supply. 



We are passing through a new era in this department of science, and 

 when the present excitement has passed away, and we look for the actual 

 progress made, the new principles established, and improved methods 

 adopted, we venture to predict that in the changes effected, Prof. John- 

 ston's works will be found to have acted an important part. 



4. Elements of Chemistry, including the actual state and prevalent 

 doctrines of the science ; by the late Edward Turner, M. D., F. L. S. 

 L. & E. Seventh edition. Edited by Justus Liebig, Ph. D., M. D., &c, 

 and William Gregory, M. D., &c. London, Taylor & Walton, 1842. 

 pp. 1274, 8vo. — At length after an interval of five years, is this long ex- 

 pected edition brought to a close by the publication (about a month since) 



