The Neglect of Chemistry hy Practical Farmers. 423 



is hardly to be expected that imperfections and omissions have 

 been altogether avoided. 



Explanation of the Tables. 



The course I intend to pursue in my remarks on these Tables 

 is — 



1st. To describe the object of each form of the series. 



2nd. The meaning of the terms used in the heading of the tables 

 in the order in which they appear, explaining, at the same time, 

 the principal properties belonging to the different chemical bodies 

 referred to, as also showing the uses to which they are commonly 

 applied in the arts and manufactures, in order to impress upon 

 the minds of those of my readers who may not heretofore have 

 been conversant with the chemical names of these bodies, that 

 they are identically the same substances, whether found in the 

 ashes of plants or bought in a chemist's shop. 



3rd. To illustrate, by a few examples, the method of calcu- 

 lating the various tables, and the uses to which they may be 

 applied. 



Tables A, B, C, D. — These four tables comprise the whole 

 series of crops commonly grown on the farm, viz., corn crops, 

 root crops, hay and soiling crops, and miscellaneous crops ; the 

 latter being a collection of those crops that are only grown in 

 particular districts, or not included in the preceding tables. 



Each class of crops is calculated in four different forms. 



Form 1. — Composition of each portion per cent., showing the 

 quantity of each ingredient in 100 parts, by weight, of either the 

 organic or inorganic portions. 



Form 2. — Entire composition per cent., showing the quantity 

 of each ingredient in 100 parts, by weight, of the whole plant,, 

 including the water natural to it. 



Form 3. — Entire composition per ton, in lbs., showing the 

 number of pounds weight of each ingredient contained in one ton 

 of any crop, or part of a crop. 



Form 4. — Entire composition per statute acre, in lbs., 

 showing the amount of each ingredient in pounds weight con- 

 tained in an average good crop per acre. 



Form 1. — The first form is necessary for the means of easily 

 estimating the probable composition of any specimen, when the 

 relative proportions of the organic and inorganic portions differ 

 from the one analysed ; as also for instituting a comparison be- 

 tween the actual composition of either portion of any crop, either 

 of the same or different species, as any difference between the 

 relative proportion of either the water, organic matter, or the ash 

 in the second part of these tables, would cause an apparent differ- 

 ence in their composition, as given in Parts 2, 3, and 4, although 



VOL. XIIT. 2 F 



