THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



547 



It would have been desirable perhaps 

 to have directed your attention to some 

 speculations with regard to the influence 

 of phosphate of lime upon roots, but time 

 will not admit of this, and moreover our 

 knowledge on the subject is extremely 

 limited. No doubt there is a kind of spe- 

 cific action of phosphates of lime 

 roots, that it does favour the production 

 of roots at particular seasons, and under 

 particular conditions of cultivation. How 



our information demands the conclusion 

 that we are to give up the position of sci- 

 ence as the leader of practice. I think 

 that when we look upon the other branch- 

 es of science which have to deal with sim- 

 pler forces and less complicated questions, 

 we have every reason to suppose that with 

 upon proper prosecution of experimental inquiry 

 in physiology, we may be able to use spec- 

 ulation as a means of greatly improving 

 and advancing: our practical knowledge. 



and wh}' it does so, science, I think, is a When we see the results of speculation in 

 unable at present positively to demonstate, ^physic and chemistry, in the conquests of 



and it is too late to-day to enter into any 

 speculations with regard to this point. I 

 may say, however, that for the settlement 

 of that point only carefully devised and 

 extensive experiments can be of any ser- 

 vice. In regard to such experiments, I 

 will make one remark in conclusion of my 

 lecture. I must differ, or apparently dif- 

 fer, to a certain extent, from our profes- 

 sor of chemistry in one opinion to which 

 he gave expression in his late interesting 

 lecture concerning the office of science in 

 relation to practice. I am not of a san- 

 guine disposition — am considered rather 

 cautious than otherwise; but I must de- 

 clare that I look upon science as not only 

 the means of explaining what has been 

 done, but as the great instrument by which 

 we shall discover means of doing what we 

 have never done before. It is quite true 

 that in th.e present state of knowledge ag- 

 ricultural practice may be in advance of 

 science : theory has not worked its way 

 up to the point in w^hich it can explain all 

 science, much more lay down any new 

 rules for guidance. That is the result of 

 the condition of the particular branch of 

 science : it is not the fault of the science 

 itself. That it is unable to do so, arises 

 from the condition in which the science is 

 placed by the natural course of events. — 

 Physiology depends for one complete set 

 of its data upon organic chemistry ; or- 

 ganic chemistry could never be properly 

 worked out until mineral chemistry had 

 made considerable advances; and even 

 were these departments of inquiry perfect, 

 there is still meteorology in its infancy, in- 

 capable as yet of explaining peculiarities 

 of climate, so as to enable us in some de- 

 gree to foretell events with regard to wea- 

 ther, as the astronomer does as regards 

 the movements of the heavenly bodies. I 

 do not consider that this imperfect state of 



the powers of steam, electricity, light — 

 all products of speculative or abstract sci- 

 ence — I think we should not doubt that 

 when physiology has ascended to the same 

 relative stage, that branch of science will 

 take its proper position, and be the guide 

 and leader of practice rather than simply 

 an humble follower in its footsteps. 



From Emry's Journal of Agriculture. 



SometMng of Plants, and How they Live. 



Plants feed themselves. They increase 

 in stature because of nourishment. They 

 receive what is required, and discharge 

 from their roots what is not required, to 

 assist their growth. What are plants made 

 of? If every farmer could answer this 

 question, and then provide the pet plant 

 with such matter as it requires in the man- 

 ufacture of itself, he would disperse a 

 mist in which at least nine-tenths of our 

 farmers are bewildered. Burn any dry 

 vegetable matter. What becomes of it? 

 You see nothing but ashes. This is not 

 all of it. The balance has become dissi- 

 pated in the atmosphere. That part which 

 is nowhere — which has escaped in the air, 

 or burned aAvay, is the organic part—the 

 ashes the inorganic portion. What did 

 this plant come from? "Dust thou art, 

 and unto dust shall thou return." The 

 part become air must have originated in 

 air ; while the ashes have become earth, 

 and originated in the soil. The organic 

 part is air, the inorganic matter earth. 

 Remember it. Nothing is lost. There 

 has been no annihilation— only a change 

 of form. The organic matter, which has 

 burned away, consists of carhon,^ oxygen, 

 hydrogen; and nitrogen. Carbon is a solid 

 (charcoal,) and the last three named are 

 gases. Carbon exists in all plants, and in 

 combination with these gases constitute 



