Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-29
LECTURE v.
from rnn LExINoroN GAZETTE.
Mtrogen-Nitic .9cid-.Qmmonia.

uncomblned with other substances, In the form
of gas. Like Oxygen and Hydrogen, il is des
ttute of color, tasto and odouI, that by The
unaided senses cannot distinguish it from
those gases. 1t is lighter than atmospheric ali
in the ratio of 07a ;o,i00.
Although possessed of considerable range Of
chemical affinity, and forming with other elements
compounds characterized by their active cbomi-
cal properties, it is itself rather an inert element
SO much 30 indeed, that we are compelled TO de-
scribe II almost entirely by negatives. II is not
capable of supporting animal or vegetable life,
although oSer,ng no positively deleterious inhu-
ence on either. it is not supporter Of combustion.
it is not itself combusible, it has neither acid
TOR alkaline properties. It's atomic weight or
combining number is l4.I5.
Nitrogen together with Oxygen, Hydrogen and
ICaTbon form tho greater part of all animal sub
stances. In the Vegetable Kingdom il is by no
means abundant, although there are certain vege-
table substances, and these Of great importance
where the vegetable is TO be used for the susten-
ance of animal life, into the composition OF
which il enters as an essential element. In the
mineral kingdom this gas is almost entirely un-
known. The great reservoir Of the nitrogen of
nature is the Atmosphere.
| OF that mass of gaseous matter which sur
rounds our earth, and to which we give the name
of the Atmosphere, Nitrogen constitutes about 4
parts out of every s., by measure. Although
constituting so large portion of the Atmosphere,
In consequence OF It's inertness, il seems TO per-
form no more important. part, with respect to the
operations, both of vegetable and animal life,
than that of diluent to the oxygen, thus mode
! rating the rapidity and energy with which that
oxygen would act. In combination with other
substances, the part which ii plays in the opera
tions OF life is far more important ;-indeed for
! reasons which will afterwards be given al large,
nitrogen is one Of those elements to which the
Farmer must especially direct his attention in
studying the subject of tho nature and operation
nt ma aQ oil &c that ka
value of different kinds Of food for animals. Be-
| fore the introduction of the new nomenclature of
chemistry, this gas was known by the nsme of
.3zote, and hence its compounds are sometimes
| called nzctized bodies.
| Of the various binary compounds which nj
trogen forms with other elements, there are two
of particular importance in Agricultural Chemis-
try, viz: Nitric Acid and Ammonia, and to the
| examination Of these, the remainder of the pre-
sent lecture will be devoted.
! Nitric Acid. This is compound Of Nitrogen
and Oxygen; consisting of equivalent OF l4.l5
parts by weight of the former, to 5 equivalents
| or g limos 8 are 4o) 20 parts by weight Of the
latter. Nitric Acid is one of those compounds
which seem 10 be incapable of existing in a Sc
parate condition. The simplest form in which
chemists are acquainted with it, is that of a So
| luton in water. This solution is known among
/ druggists by the name Of .Rgua5ortis. II is in
It's combinations with alkalies, such as Po,assa,
Soda and Lime, that it occurs most abundanty in
nature and is used in agriculture. Its compound
with Potassa Nitrate of Potassa) is the sub
stance known by the common name of saltpetre
or N'tre. This salt is generated spontaneously
In the soil In certain parts of the East Indies and
also In that OF certain caves, i'm this country
from which II is extracted by lixiyation, j. g. dis
solving 1t in water and afterwards driving off the
water by means of heat. 1t is also prepared az
tifcially in what termed nilre-beds, which
consist of mixture of common mould or porous
| al.
stances containing nitrogen. When a heap of
these materials, preserved moist and i'm shady
situation, is moderately exposed TO the air. nitric
acid is gradually generated and untes with the
potassa and lime present in the mixture. With
the use OF Saltpetre in the preservation Of meat
all are familiar. 1t has also been used in agri-
culture in solution in water, as a top dressino
with excellent effect, especially in the case of
| grass lands. 1t should be remarked, however,
that all of the Salts of Nitric Acid are injurious
to vegetation when applied in large quantities.
| All Of the salts of Nitric Acid are very solu-
Bile in water. The Nitrate of Potassa (Saltpe-
trey if pure, is not affected by exposure to the
atmosphere, but the Ntrates of Soda and Lime,
have so strong an attraction for water, that per-
fect'y dry, hard Crystals Of these salts, on ex-
posure to the ABSORB enough moisture TO effect
! their solution and thus run into liquids. The So
lubiiity Of these salts fits them for being absorb
ed by the roots Of plants and thus entering into
| the vegetable structure.
| The salts of Nitric Acid, and more especially
Nitric Acid itself. very readily undergo decom-
position. Most of the uses to which this Acid is
applied IN the laboratory of the Chemist, are de-
pendant upon the with which its elements
are separated the from the other; and this
same popularity would evidently ii il for fur
nlshlDg nitrogen where that is an essential eie-
ment. The fact, that wheat, which during It's
growth has received top.dressing Of nitrate OF
Soda, contains more gluten (the principal nitro
genIzed substance contained in that gran) than
that which has been raised without such top.
dressing, would seem TO confirm the suPpostion
that it is in the form of Nitric Acid that part o.
the nitrogcnof plants entered the vegetable struc
ture or at least that in this form it is capable
of entering into vegetables. The more preva
lent opinion al the present day, however, is tina
most Of the nitrogen of plants is obtained. no
from the Nitric acid, but the Ammonia, absorbed
by their roots.
The question may perhaps present itself Il
some minds, why not adopt the simplest Of al
supposi'ions respecting this matter, and say tina
plants obtained their nitrogen directly from In,
= atmosphere, the great natural reservoir of tina
element. There are nseparable objections Il
, this supposition which SHALL state fully wheI
we come TO examine into the nature of the foot
Of plants. For the present, will remark only
the fact, that such suppositiou would not be il
!, accordance with the analogy Of nature. Oxygen
S Nitrogen, Carbon and Hydrogen are the mail
= constituents Of all animal matter. The FIRST twt
n Of these presented to animals in their sim
G plest form in the atmosphere; carbon, in char
coal, and hydrogen, in water; and yet. as all vii
acknowledge, without puuing the matter to tht
. test Of actual experiment, atmospheric air, char
coal and water would prove but sorry food for tn
sustenance of animal life sit is in the form o
u exceedingly complex compounds that all Of thes
clements enter into the animal system. Tn