New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-09
Chemistry In Its Relation TO Agriculture.

DIR A~risEIL's TWELFTH AND LAST LECTURE.
Delivered before the American Agricultural Association Msf,h
The Twelfth and last Lecture of this Course, de
liverod on Friday evening was devoted to consdera
ton of the Action of the Impondersbe Elements on
the Growth Of Crops aud the best means Of promoting
Improvements in Agriculture
The Lecturer remarked that having In the preceding
Lectures brought under notice how far material sub
stances influence the growth Of vegetation. he no"
proposed to consider of those agencies which are
not capable of being brought minuely under eSsmina
ton and which have been termed, from their Inability
TO be- weighed the lmpOnderablo Eemeris-Ihe most
important OF these he designated first as Light Light
received from the sun he observed is not that SIN
pie body which s ordinary Wilderness would lead US 10
suppose but Is formed of various compounds which
readily undergo decomposition
The DR.. detailed the classification of the primitive
Colors and the dimnution of their number, upon mi
mute aud accurate nve ston into the three rays OF
red. blue and yellow-,he remainder of the seven orr
ginslly included being now looked upon AS varieties OF
these three The DR.. Illustrated his remarks by dis.
gram showing the separation OF light when It's rays ia
upon prism proving that each ray takes particular
line Of directon and proceeded 10 detail OF tue 81
feet OF the different rays on foreign substances lhe
red and violet he remarked possess the gresc't
power of chemical action. Tho heat Is found TO Or
greatest at the violet end of the spectrum-suhcent
Go reduce metallic oxides t. the condition of pure me
tai lis believed, and with truth, that this chemical
action has sitnlihf tUcCt on Ntkrthuou III
Il Is getting rid of oxygcnin tho plant, oxygen . also
set free while carbon Is fixed within the body When
Hight plays upon any object two or three changes may
take place either the light 10 simply absorbed, of II
may be absorbed fire, and reelected afterward To the
latter action owing the color Of objects In Nature tie
green tint of leaves, etc
Thus W. ind that the ray OF Hight Is not only not a
simple body, hui that ii slavery complicated one It's
power to effect these chemical changes 10 very much
owing the blue ray the property OF the sun in bleach
Ing &c. IL mainly TO DO attributed TO this-Ihe Dr
then passed TO consideration OF the intimate connec
ton between tha heat and light OF the sun and toe
main Electricity with its effects upon plants
lie considered that the main supply OF atmospheric
Electricity must be derived from the evaporation on the
surface OF the groundinstancing the large amount OF
vapor sent on BY so small body inches OF water
or sufficient dcAect the electometer to very great
tent Tie detailed number OF experiments, particularly
those of Mr. Forster in Great Britain where the electric
current Of the atmosphere brought to the surface
of the ground by the agency o conducting wires This
current generally running due east Snd west was IA
tcIceptcd by placing the wires aforesaid from north to
south. The experiments however were only pat'isll
successful The DIR. thought Il very doubtful whittier
90 large I'D amount OF electricity would be OF any res
benefit 20 the crop and considered that the stimulate IN
hence resulting would be altogether too much for the
plants.
lie detailed various modes OF simple Analyses OF soils
and advered - one other incidental points In
conclusion he urged the necessity thai Agriculture DC
conducted on better plan and with better means The
only way he considered. by which this can be sccom
plshed 10 BY state Institutions As Agriculture Is the
foundation of the National wesl,h, every tscii,y (hc
urged shou be sorjed IL for Improvement itis mol
single Science. many others are indispenssbly con
nectsd with IT, and Is extremely desirable that THIS
connection be carried out more thoroughly.
The Dr. concluded with few practical observations
and closed bis Course amid the general sppisuse Of his
audience.
On motion Of Mr. seeley, nios. ADprs kNnSr' ESQ
vice-Presdent Of The Association. called TO thu
Chair. and series OF appropriate Resolutions was
sdopted-exprcssivc Of the pleasure afforded the mem
bcrs by these Lectures Of Dr. ANTIsELL with vote OF
thanks superseded thereto ON motion, DR.. ANrISSLi
was then unanimously appointed Chemist 10 the Asso
eison with the provision that bis services may he al
any time called sgsin into requiston u deliver Lee
lures upon any particular subjects.
The meeting then adjourned