225 
dance which provokes the prolific propensities of the tree, is found in 
the decaying vegetable and animal matter supplied to the roots. It is 
that substance which rises to your nostrils, and almost stifles you with 
its sharp, pungent smell, when you are cleaning out your horse-stable of 
a very hot day. Yet, notwithstanding the great abundance in which it 
exists, it is in consequence of its volatility, the one most likely to be de¬ 
ficient in your manures. It is a powerful and necessary stimulant to ani¬ 
mal as well as vegetable life, and I must be permitted to refer here to one 
of the most beautiful provisions of nature in regard to this active and 
useful agent. Whilst all decaying animal matter is throwing it off in so 
great abundance, that unless rapidly consumed it would prove highly 
dileterious to animal life, the vegetable world is rapidly converting it to 
its own support, and preserving, as nearly as circumstances will permit, 
that balance of production and consumption so necessary to the health 
and comfort of all animated beings. 
4th. Last and largest of the four simple compounds of vegetable mat¬ 
ter is carbon, derived largely from the atmosphere by the leaves and 
twigs, as well as from the decaying vegetable matter by the roots. It 
forms nearly the entire woody parts of all vegetable matter. Hence if 
you wish your tree to grow it must have a liberal supply of carbon. If 
to fruit, see that a supply of ammonia, from which it may derive its ni¬ 
trogen, is at hand. 
As it is important to the application of what is to follow, that the rea¬ 
der should be familiar with the statements just made, I will briefly re¬ 
capitulate them : 
Oxygen and Hyd rogen are always in contact with every part of the 
tree, are taken up as food by every part, and are appropriated mainly to 
the formation of its watery parts. 
Nitrogen, though held in the air to its leaves and twigs, is hardly food 
for them, but is collected by the roots from the ammonia contained in the 
rain water, in the decaying animal and vegetable matter about them, and 
in the barn yard manure applied to them; and is chiefly used for the 
formation of their flowers and fruit. 
Carbon is derived largely from the carbonic acid gas of the atmosphere, 
by the leaves and twigs, and is also absorbed by the roots from the de- 
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