2 
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, 
to the food of plants* There is first that general store-house of inorganic matter, from 
which all kinds of plants seleet the peculiar elements which they respectively require for 
the nutrition of their bodies. We may note, in the first place in this branch of inquiry, 
that different families of vegetables require different sorts of food. That which nourishes' 
the wheat plant, is not so essential to flax and hemp, or to the potato. It is true, that in 
a majority of cases, the same substances may be found in different families of plants; but 
there still remains the fact, that the proportions required of a given element differ greatly* 
It is then quite important to know what is especially wanted in a given vegetable, as wheat, 
rye or indian corn. In addition to the study here briefly alluded to, we, unconsciously, as is 
were, extend our inquiries to the conditions on which life and organization depend. The - 
distribution or destination of nutritive substances is governed by law. We are not left for a 
moment to suppose that nutriment is borne to each organ in the same degree, and in the 
same amount. This, as will be seen by reference to analyses to be detailed hereafter, is 
beautifully illustrated in the cereals : we find only traces of the carbonates of lime and 
magnesia in their seeds or kernels, while the ash of the stems and leaves furnishes both in 
considerable quantities. So carbonate of lime is in great abundance in the bark of most 
trees, while it is less in quantity in the wood, and still less in leaves, flowers and seeds. 
Such results could never have been secured, except under conditions that have been im¬ 
posed by laws which regulate the life and growth of all living beings. 
In the execution of the plan of this work, I shall proceed to detail the researches I have 
made on the composition of the inorganic parts of plants which have grown upon the soils 
of this State, the general characters of which have been already given in a former volume. 
I desire to connect together, as far as possible, the soil and its products " T or, in other words, 
to trace the relations which exist between the soil, and the living beings which vegetate 
upon it. That this desire might be carried out as far as practicable under existing circum¬ 
stances, repeated additional analyses have been made of the same soil when its immediate 
products could be obtained. I deemed it highly necessary to investigate minutely the 
products of the soil of each of the several districts, for the purpose of ascertaining the 
adaptations of each. The work, however, is too great to be executed in the time allotted 
to the survey, but it is hoped that enough has been done to aid the farmer to a certain 
extent. This will not appear improbable, when it is known that the agricultural districts 
possess points of great similarity, and that the most, essential properties of soils are common 
to each district respectively. So great indeed is the uniformity, that we may calculate the 
quantity of certain elements which exist in their respective areas, and hence determine in 
each instance how long it will answer to cultivate exhausting crops. 
It is scarcely necessary to say, that we arrive at a knowledge of the most essential part of 
the food of plants by an analysis of the ash. Although the carbonaceous matter which is 
burned off is also important, still, so far as inquiries of the capabilities of the soil are con¬ 
cerned, the carbonaceous are of less importance than the inorganic and fixed parts; for so 
essential are these fixed matters, that the very existence of vegetables depends upon them. 
They constitute the frame work or skeleton, and can not be dispensed with ; and hence 
