The Mineral Theory. 
507 
Lawes, and yet Mr. Lawes lias the conceit to make believe that 
I had adopted his definition of manure seven years before he 
gave it, and that although it was by no means satisfactory to 
himself, it was perfectly satisfactory to a German professor of 
chemistry. 
It is obvious that his definition of manure would be perfectly 
satisfactory, if his word organic were changed into my word 
atmospheric, and carbonic acid, ammonia, and water included in 
the term inorganic, to which they are universally assigned.. 
Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert's conclusions belong to that class 
which goes under the name of Fallacies of Confusion in John 
Stuart Mill's ' System of Logic,' and which comprehends, " among 
others, all those which have their source in language, whether 
arising from the vagueness of our terms or from casual associ- 
ations with them, in which no other causes can be assigned for 
the mistake committed than neglect or inability to state the 
question properly, and to appreciate the evidence with definite- 
ness and precision." 
If the leading idea of my work is borne in mind, as it is 
stated in the following passage (4th. edition), ' On Manure/ 
p. 186 :— 
• " A time will come when plants growing upon a field will be supplied with 
their appropriate manures, prepared in chemical manufactories, when a plant 
will receive only such substances as actually serve for its food, just as at present 
a few grains of quinine are given to a patient afflicted with fever instead of the 
ounce of wood, which he was formerly compelled to swallow in addition," 
it will be seen that all my statements and endeavours were 
directed with a view to oppose the ruling idea that organic ma- 
nure was necessary to preserve the fertility of fields and to increase 
the crops. The prejudice in favour of their necessity had grown 
to be a dogma, and the progress of agriculture depended on the 
farmers becoming aware of their error. 
My whole book may be described as an uninterrupted protest 
against the existence of organic food of plants, for organic matter 
cannot in the nature of things be produced by chemical manu- 
factories ; and if they were really necessary, chemistry could afford 
no assistance to agriculture. 
If any one will consider the real cause of this sixteen years' 
controversy, he will be aware that it is a false definition of 
manure. If Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert had not classed ammonia 
and ammoniacal salts among organic manures, a dispute upon 
my theory would have had no excuse. There is something so 
degrading from a scientific point of view at the bottom of this 
controversy, that those who have taken part against the only 
scientific doctrine which agriculture possesses, will look back 
