consistent of the elements, Oxygen and Hydrogen; he can render it so, artificially, and then he finds it is perfectly unfit for the beverage of man and animals ; he has, therefore, reason to admire the wonderful provision of the Creator, in ordaining water to contain principles, in addition to its own elements, which are indispensable to the support of vitality.

X The solid parts of the globe, which are popularly called the Earths, as, for example, Lime, Sand, Clay, and Magnesia, are, in fact, compounds of Oxygen, with the metals, Calcium, Silicium, Aluminum, and Magnesium; they are rusts of these metals, or metallic oxides, and as such they are styled in refined chemical language, but they will be spoken of as Earths in this inquiry, and the following statement will show their composition.

714

1000 Lime.

500

1000 Sand or Silica,

I. Oxygen, 286+ Calcium, II. Oxygen, 500+ Silicium, III. Oxygen, 480 + Aluminum, 520 = 1000 Clay or Alumina. IV. Oxygen, 400+ Magnesium, 600 = 1000 Magnesia.

These earths are sometimes found very pure, but more frequently mingled together, or combined with other metallic oxides, as, for example, those of iron and potassium: thus common clay contains a large portion of alumina, to which its tenacity and plasticity with water is entirely referrible; but it also contains portions of silica, and oxide of iron, which cause its grittiness and colour; and lastly, oxide of potassium

or potash, which renders it fertile for the growth of

corn.

The chemist discovers that the earths are likewise presented by nature, in combination with Acids containing the inflammable elements, Carbon, Sulphur, and Phosphorus. These are respectively called Carbonic, Sulphuric, and Phosphoric acids, and their combinations with the earths are called Carbonates, Sulphates, and Phosphates.

Thus, for example, Chalk, Limestone, and Marble, are Carbonates of lime; Gypsum and Alabaster are Sulphates of lime; and Bone-earth contains Phosphate of lime and phosphate of magnesia.

The earths, when absolutely pure, are solid, incombustible, infusible, excepting in the most intense degree of artificial heat that can be commanded; they are insoluble in water, with the exception of lime,,

When the earths naturally occur in various states of purity, they have the foregoing characters in a very eminent degree; their natural and artificial compounds with each other, with several metallic oxides, and with the above acids, in the generality of instances are similarly characterized.

A general notion of the manner in which earths, earthy and saline compounds, organic matters, and water, are mingled together to constitute a soil, may be gained from the following statement, which supposes that 1000 parts by weight of a soil, have been submitted to proximate analysis.

The more particular examination of soils, as regards their relative fertility, will be given hereafter; and it is by a correct knowledge of the nature of the pure earths, and their compounds, and various mixtures with organic and inorganic matters, that the chemist is enabled to afford valuable information to the agriculturist, and thus assist him materially in augmenting the produce of the autumnal harvest.

It is true that every man can cause ground to bear corn, yet it will only grow in abundance, and of the best quality, where sown after rational principles, and the labours of the agriculturist are profitable and useful, in proportion as he is acquainted with the rudiments of chemical science.

Air, water, and earths, are inorganic substances;

they neither grow nor are they reproduced; they have no period that may be called their perfection; but Seeds, upon which the hopes of the agriculturist are founded, are Organic bodies, produced by the powers of vitality; they have periods of growth, maturity, death, and decay.

Can the chemist extend his analytical researches to seeds, and other organic bodies, and ascertain their elements, as he can those of air, water, earths, and inorganic matters? He can: all organic bodies admit of analysis, and with reason it might be imagined, that hundreds of elements would be elicited by such an extensive investigation of the diversified array of animated nature. How different is the fact obtained by experiment, for it teaches the chemist that only Four elements enter into the essential constitution of all organic productions!

These Four elements are Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and Hydrogen, or the ultimate elements of the atmosphere. This statement may appear incredible, but it is an experimental fact, and moreover, some vegetable and animal structures do not even contain nitrogen.

This discovery presents a magnificent illustration of the power and goodness of God, who created these elements, and controls their arrangement by definite and unerring laws, into countless forms of beauty and utility, for the adornment and enrichment of the earth. It must be remembered that such combinations are under the influence of the incomprehensible agency vitality, and towards it man can make no approaches.

of

As a chemist, le is permitted to analyse the air, the water, the earths, and to recompose nearly all, in the same weights of their constituents, as those in which they were presented for his examination; he is likewise permitted to analyse all organic bodies, and to obtain their three or four elements, in weights, the sum total of which exactly equals the original weight of the body subjected to experiment; but he is not permitted to exercise synthesis. He may place these elements together, in every possible manner that human skill can suggest, employ upon them the most powerful exciting agencies at his command, they will neither combine to produce the original body, nor the slightest resemblance of an organized body.

The chemist thus meets with an impassable barrier to synthetical operations, and upon all occasions when he encounters recondite matters, which do not admit of elucidation by his own limited and insignificant acquirements, he does not perplex his mind with presumptuous efforts to tear the veil of mystery that he cannot raise, but humbly yields submission to the Truth" that the things which are impossible with man, are possible with God."

"There is no part of chemistry which abounds in more extraordinary disclosures than that connected with the composition and properties of organic products. It teaches us that, infinitely diversified as they apparently are, none of them seem essentially to contain or include more than three or four elementary substances."