The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-03

But we must return from this DEPRESSION to that branch
OF our subject more immediately before US have al
ready said that practical chemistry had been invesu-
eating the proper nutment OF animal te and the plants
which most abundsntly supply IT, and that mporan, DIS
coveries had followed these Investigations, peculiarly
valuable the farmer who desires 10 conduct his ope,
alions not only prohtaby but inleiglby IL is ascer-
tanned that among The edible plants there is great dit
ference in their capacity to provide for the subsistence OF
They yield the principles OF nument III very dii-
erent proportions and this consideration is most lu
bous roots naturaZed in our country, the potato - by
far the valuable, analysis showing that one-fourih
of it may be considered as nurtve matter The carrot,
the parsnp the beet and the turnp are less valuable,
but still important objects OF cultivation.
But the family OF the cereal grains IS that winch Is
best adapted TO the use OF man. as by lar the richest
in nutrtiye qualities and has constituted the principal
article of human food among the civilized nations OF the
world Analytical chemistry thus TO add its testi
mony TO general experience. and to make known to us
OF the OF this preference At the head OF this
family is wheat, whose introduction into Greece was re-
warded by the divine honors conferred the beneactor
Like the horse and the OK it the universal companion
OF civilized man, and has accompanied him in his miga
lions around the globe possesses greater proportion
of the nurye principle than either of its congenors,
than any other vegetable production known to u.s. Care
full experiments have been made with view to practical
results and tables prepared showing the nuve proper
ties Of plants used food either for for the do
nestle animals tits curious as well as interesting
subject OF inquiry and one which should engage the at
tenton OF every intelligent farmer II lies at the very
foundation Of agricultural Improvement
The knowledge we have gained OF the food of plants
exhibits OF the happies applications OF chemistry 10
vegetable physiology and it's Investigations have opened
views in that great department OF creation, leading,
with other recent discoveries 10 the conclusion that there
is striking analogy existing between the two living
kingdoms OF Nature, and that simplicity is less at
tribute than wisdom in the works OF Almighty power.
That some soils are more favorable than others TO the
production OF plants, and that their growth may be stun
ulated by adventurous substances, facts that expe
rience must have taught in the very earliest stages OF
husbandry But it was reserved for late periodor our
xhs ox1t
the principles OF vegetable organization which regulate
the germnalion the growth and the decay OF plants and
which enable US to understand how we may best aid the
operations OF Nature We know there are organs per-
forming their assigned functions all vegeta
uon, and essential TO it's growth and development Hav
ing asceraDed that plants require food and that they
possess proper organs 10 prepare and to convey to its
destined work, where is incorporated, by some process
to us. into a new boiy we have a way
opened for an Inquiry into the nature and propee. OF
this nutrimenta matter, and of the practical appca ion
Of the principles evolved to the purposes OF the farmer
The functions OF vegetable lfe admirable and admira
bly, peror and forever ration, unchanged and
upon world Of vegetation, which. in its
extent and variety and in the countless subjects
contains beyond the faculties OF man to conceive is
among the most wonderful displays of creative power
Within the range OF sona vision. how vain the effort
to conjecture even the number OF plants that start into
life and then disappear TO give place 10 their successors
IN this craseess round OF creative organization But
who shall counl-who shall even dare to imagine how
many individuals compose that mighty mass OF vegela-
ton which the face OF ibe earth, and peneales
into the OF the sea- 1t is given to man
enter The threshold OF such work II is before
aud within reach, but forever inaccessible 10 US
B. OF The differences appreclaSle IN the
and properties of plants boansls have succeed
ed IN arranging them into separate Classes ny which
they brought in some MEASURE within our grasp.
These clas-ihcaiions are, however, ARTIFICIAL though
founded natural phenomena and designed 10 intro
uce into the consideration OF vast subject, and
thereby iac ate our acquaintance win H. The oots
body the bark and the leaves OF plants and the How
and fruits in the OF Modification, are vegea
BILE productions with which we are all familiar Much OF
internal sirucurethe wood, the ph, the sap, and
and the tubesare equally well known anil some OF their
functions have been long ascetaned or rather conlec
tured with reasonable certainty But It is only recently
that much progress has been made IN this branch OF
natural history and that now beginning 20 under
stand not mixed, the organic laws OF vegetable fe but
many OF the functions OF vegetable organization. aud the
processes by which the great work OF production goes
The ascent and descent OF the sap, analogous TO the
circulation of the blood 10 the human system the YES
sells through which II Passes the functions OF The leaves
resembling those OF the lungs. by which the vital fluid is
divided between two sets of vessels one anspraory to
exhae its waery paris, and the other secretoy TO con-
duet the residue after having undergone the necessary
change through the proper vessels 10 continue It's pre-
scribed operations the economy of Nature the pres
ence OF exaneous matter OF scious substances for ex
ample. in the epderms OF plaatsal these and other dis
covenes have enlarged the sphere OF our knowledge,
and have given as satisfactory conceptions, instead OF
vain conleclures OF many operations IN the progress OF
vegetation. They promise yet brighter rewards iSr ~
substances contained in the sap. and possessed OF var
Gus properties. 10 truly wonderful process we nave
no conception how the several vessels select from the
same materials the proper anentary matter, and reject
what j. unit. how these elements enter into the new
body, and finally offer their services to man in new
form Investigations the cellular structure OF plants
hold The prospect OF important accesslons to pres
ent knowledge OF vegetable physiology, connected as
they with some OF the most difficult questions con
corning the organization and growth of vegetation The
cells. ], is conceded, form the basis of all plants
Their mnuieness and the rapidy Of their development
are equally beyond our comprehension; for II is est
mated that they average but 1500th part OF inch in
diameter giving more than hundred millions to
every cubic inch, and that OF the fungi they
generated at the OF fifty six millions in minute
Such estimates far beyond the grasp Of the human
faculties, producing shadowy impressions rather than
adequate conceptions but, vaguely coDectura they
must be- they are yet sufficient TO satisfy that we
move in a world OF miracles from The cradle to the
grave, not one OF which perhaps II ia given TO man
fully to comprehend, and that the wonderful processes
are by laws that lie Tar beyond the bound
ary of our knowledge And these minute vescles are
each shut out from all others and in plants
the lower ORDER both absorbing and assmatng, while
those OF superior structure OF the cells absorb
The nurmeni while others incorporate il into the body OF
he plant The mind is lost in the effort to conceive the
number OF these microscopic agencies, even IN single
herb and ye, they the materials OF which the whole
vegetable creation Is constructed And each OF these
ministers Of Almighty power, invisible to the naked eye
has kind of independent lie, with lis proper iunciIoDs
the whole forming together in mode inscruabe to
u.s. the life Of the plant and giving TO it ts lgneous sub
stance and thus while ii is constituted single body, II
contains within ltself infinite number OF separate
agents, efficiently but mysterously operating together
the sands upon the shore swept By The
vsncing and recedng tides but ever barren and indie
but what they 10 ihs wondrous multitude
If wing oro hundreds of which of