132 Vegetable Physiology. 



played in the neatness and success with which he adapted to 

 the purposes of experiment, the simple implements that chance 

 threw in his way." {Qiiarterly Journal of Science^ Sj-c, vol. viii. 

 p. 17.) If to make experiments in nearly the whole range of 

 chemistry required no paraphernalia of apparatus, much less 

 does it require sucli for the analysis of soils, to which I shall 

 in this place confine my directions for the attention of the hor- 

 ticulturist ; not that such alone is desirable to be pursued by 

 him, but because, in the present state of chemical knowledge 

 among the cultivators of the soil generally, it is absurd to ex- 

 pect that he would pursue some of its most intricate researches. 

 There is no field of science in which lie hid at present more 

 brilliant objects for examination, none that will redound more 

 to the fame of their discoverer, none that will be more gene- 

 rally beneficial to mankind, than that which embraces agricul- 

 tural and horticultural chemistry. It is yet in its infancy, but 

 the day will come when every cultivator will prepare his soil 

 for each crop, in a more scientific way than at present mani- 

 fested in one unvarying course of culture. The day will come 

 when manures will be distributed in greater variety and with 

 more discrimination, than stable manureand chalk areat present 

 by the load ; and when science confirming him in the judicious 

 application of manures, and the necessity of a clean course 

 of cultivation, will, at the same time, demonstrate that even 

 dungs and composts may be selected and compounded with 

 beneficial discrimination ; that economy is not misplaced in 

 regulating abundance ; and that, though chemistry can never 

 supersede the use of the dunghill, the spade, the plough, and 

 the hoe, yet it can be one of their best guides, can aid them in 

 their objects, can be a pilot even to the best practitioner. 



(To be continued.') 



Art. IV. Vegetable Physiology, tvitk a Vietv to Vegetable Culture. 

 By M. W. Hertz, of Stuttgard, now in Kew Gardens. 



Sir, 

 Vegetable physiology being one of ray favourite sciences, 

 I always took a great delight in reading any thing belonging 

 to it ; and as the germination of the seed particularly attracted 

 my attention, I was very anxious to make myself in some 

 degree acquainted with the phenomena and changes which 

 take place during that process. I found in the Horticultural 

 Society's Transactions (vol. i. p. 217.)? a truly philosophical 



