Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-04-06
agricultural.
Chemistry and Agriculture.

compound materials at all their termini, and
Of discharging such parts as may not be-
come necessary TO the new combination
formed.
Among the most important OF the nate
rails so absorbed may be enumerated, Car
bonic Acid aud Ammonia.
Before describing the facts arising gu, OF
the absorption Of these materials. il may be
proper 10 describe their sources Of produc-
ton, properties, &c. &c. MUS:
Carbonic Acid Gas simply means char
coal or carbon, dissolved 10 the gas called
oxygen.
Suppose ton Of coal, or load Of wood
to be burned in an ordinary fire place, and
lei US trace what becomes Of il during and
after the process OF combustion. Ninety.hve
per cent. Of dry wood and coal is carbon,
and al high temperatures carbon is soluble
in oxygen gas, Ia component Of water and
Of the atmospheric and when so dissolved,
forms carbonc acid gas, colorless gas,
which al the temperature of the atmosphere,
is much heavier, but when heated is ex-
banded one hye-hundredth part Of its bulk
for every degree of heat added, aud in con-
sequence, when resulting from combustion,
is specifically lighter than the surrounding
atmosphere, and for the same reason that
piece Of cork rises in water, because il is
lighter than its bulk Of water,) il ascends
the chimney-on reaching the top its heat
leaves the gas, and from its loss again con-
tracts, becoming heavier than the atmos-
phere, and sinks TO the surface OF the earth.
Here we will leave for the present our car
bonic acid arising from combustion.
All vegetable matters undergoing the pro-
cess Of fermentation or decay, give as their
principal ultimate result, carbonic acid gas.
Thus il may be seen that the vegetable pro.
ducts Of the earth are all re-converted by
some or all these processes into carbonic
acid, and are again sent out on the face
Of nature, 10 supply the material for new
growth.
To understand clearly the operation of
its absorption by plants, the peculiar prop
critics Of this gas must be understood
Many substances, snch as iron, bladder.
oil-silk, &C., will hold atmospheric air for
any length Of time, but not so with carbonic
acid gas the ultimate PARTICLES Of this gas
are so minute that they pass with ease
through any substance not yitrIhed like
glass.
Thus in church or lecture room, con.
tanning one thousand persons, each person
by breathing, renders twelve gallons OF air
per minute incapable Of supporting animal
life, and we're il not for the fact that the car
bonic acid gas thus formed, could pass out
between the ultimate particles Of stone
wood, sc. composing the walls, the audi
ence wSu'a u "a, -, ,"e ,ss",rh ., hs,wss,
] dus'' =, pe 90 y. h.rrsI os sonIs. Or ouar
no ~. h.r,ai =
Vi w'.., o.".. @ as a.shon;o ..;,
: peas, t'e u'n's Iii 49,. So,,ssan he ,I,;
A loe,ng s'n.he WI pa 49, .,h.,.ns.s -
1 maze pa'u''es VI '"o'. o.ns' ~ A. 4,
acco'u"g " ,"e e~Pe s 80
!. oeussuIe anu o'"e. ns eaa.J,h ps -. Nil
'ains one .wen.y 'n.e'"u .I .o - .n Iii
o. c'oo.,o a.'J sst, a ma;.s ,.s.I,s =
VI 'eee'"s u". h.,sa-"d "a .s.an mi
'he a'nSspne'e, Vue n.a. s.. aa -
u,hes VI 'n,s Sa' 'o' e's'' "'"''
o' rs own Jun Ill. .a..,.,a ,.h
u Is, 'ne'e'o Sy s" g., .hoa
P'a". g.o" .aP'uy ";.S - ~. 80, H.
eIs, 'o' 'n'S gas oo'a I =. ~ W. ';., n a,ef
% passes my P'a ;,, 100, 49,. ~ .snJ.;nad n
amnoh'a a. WI ne,es s,"",; :. - i. Ne ~
pau h - s"a as;na ag ,ps oYyasn =, The surfac
m oS N. is,ye. AGAIN 40 90 forth for the sol,
,e lion Of n new quantity Of carbon thus j,
:, No, d,fF;cuI, 10 account for the fact IN,
d vegetables. after being deprived Of waite
~ nr;nc;nalIv comnosed OF carbon,
eoJi Some idea NAV he formed of the fore
" with which carbon;c acid enters the roo
'" ~ ni.n,. tom The sollow;ng erperimeut
" y Wh"n ,hs .,n !. r;.;ng rsn;diy in 4 ora,
v;o" 60, oTT = main branch or the BODY
,hs ,;ns and Mace over This cut an ind
:. ,"hhsr ho,,Is az urea, strength. (say oapab
S. ~ sus,a;n;ng a measure Of fifteen pounds D
III. s.na~a ;n.S comnress the air from Il
hdr,,ls and Kind ,be neck firmly around wi
srs -" a., , liza fso as moi 10 comnress n
or Or .r; III ,nhos ~ The vine and ,be res,
III, =. ,ha, The haa will gyaduallv dis,en
ng . w" s,en,naIlv buss, or r. he contents
of ans !, iii he found 10 contain wa,
10y ." ~. .c;d Or n craving MIA
rsi. No ,Iaced in water containing lime in sol
rst az ,;oa ,he water will soon he rendered lurb
re- ,ha .,,hon;c acid M, vet appropriated
he nIan, bu, resident unal,ered in lis c,