DIVISION I. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PLANT. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE VOLATILE PART OF PLANTS. 



§1. 



DISTINCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS. 



Oeganic and Inoegaihc Matter. — All matter may be 

 divided into two great classes — Organic and Inorganic. 



Organic matter is the product of growth, or of vital 

 organization, whether vegetable or animal. It is mostly 

 combustible, i. e., it may be easily set on fire, and burns 

 away into invisible gases. Organic matter either itself 

 constitutes the organs of life and growth, and has a pecu- 

 liar organized structure, inimitable by art, — is made up of 

 cells, tubes or fibres, (wood and flesh) ; or else is a mere 

 result or product of the vital processes, and destitute of 

 this structure (sugar and fat). 



All m.atter which is not a part or product of a living 

 organism is inorganic or mineral matter (rocks, soils, wa- 

 ter, and air). Most of the naturally occurring forms of 

 inorganic matter which directly concern agricultural chem- 

 jstry are incombustible, and destitute of anything like or- 

 ganic structure. 



By the processes of combustion and decay, organic mat- 

 ter is disorganized or converted into inorganic matter, 

 while, on the contrary, by vegetable growth inorganic 

 matter is organized, and becomes organic. 

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