Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-03-24

the air, from man, the lord of The creation,
TO the veriest reptile, is a purvevor of
food for vegetable subsistence. Where
ever, therefore, animals abound, csrbonic
acid is largely formed but this carbonic
acid, in giving its carbon to vegetables, gives
also its oxygen to purify the air, and fur
nishes the means of breathing TO men and
animals. Decomposition of animals, and
the decay of vegetables also, afford both
csrbonic acid and ammonia, The very mate
ras for the growth Of a new series of life
The death Of one generation thus becomes
the source Of life TO another, and each lIv-
ing generation is the phoenix arising from
the ashes of that which preceded it, life
whose very existence depends upon previ-
Gus death This is type Of what revela-
lion teaches, ,ha, we shall not 'surely die"
but that death is but means 10, and ne
cessary precurs or OF, aglotious resurrection.
There il. .'augh, TOO by this simple ye, beau
tiful and perfect process, the mutual depen-
dence which exists, no. for pleasure only,
but for life itself, between all the systems
Of animated nature, ,ha, nothing is in vain,
nothing lost, each humble plan. ,ha, grows
may be nourished by the breath oi the great
est of mankind, and in lis turn purify the
all for the life Of hero. The fraiIest flow
er, though perchance 'born 10 blush un-
SEEM" does not "was,e lis fragrance on the
deser, air." The perfume of flowers is g
compound of carbonic scid and ammonia,
add may be taken up by corn, wheat, or any
other plant used as food by man.
The mode in which the various changes
are effected deserve a passing notice. In
the process Of termination oxygen is absorb
ed, hea. is developed, and probably ace'ic
acid is formed, whose use is 10 extreot from
the soil bases useful for The further progress
Of The plants. The substance Of the seed
starch and albumen) become soluble, and
undergoes certain changes by which the
woody fibre required for uhe stem and leaves
is produced. The plan. now must absorb
from the air and soil mailer necessary for
its growth. By means of its roots the me-
cessary mineral matter is taken up, and also
ammonia and some portions Of lts carbonIc
acid. BY far The greater portion Of the latter
is, however, absorbed by numerous pores
on the bottom of the leaf, and under the
influence Of light, carbon necessary for Its
fibre, gum, Sc, is separated and retained !;
whilst oxygen, f. for the respiration Of ami
mails, is thrown ou, by pores on the top of
the leaf. During daylight plants are con-
,inually absorbing carbonic acid and giving
out oxygen; in the night the contrary. 10
some extent, prevails they then throw out
carbonlc acid. This explains partially the
fac. of the greater end more rapid growth
Of vegetable life during the summer season.,
when the Gays-the period ofIight in which
The plants ass:mlale carbon and build up
their slructure-are much longer than in
o,her seasons Of the year.
OxYGEN-Ano.her Of the elementary
constituents Of organic matter is oxygen,
and one of the most generally difIused in
nature, thong b contrary 10 what some have
said, it performs n" more important part
than any of the other elements. All are
necessary; each performing its special part
assigned to it; they are all links in the chain
Of ma,ler-aII parts of
"One superior Whole,
Whose body nature is, and God the SOUL.
1t forms large part of the atmosphere
which surrounds the earth, abou. eight
ninlhs of all The water in existence, besides
forming q very large portion OF rocks, mine
rails and soils. In wafer it is in chemical
union with hydrogen, and in air it is only
mechanically mixed, not chemically COM
bined with nitrogen, both elements of or
eanic matter hereafter to be described; but
in soils and rocks il is combined with va
rious bodies, affecting their properties in a
very great degree. In its pure state it is
invisible, colorless, tasteless and without
smell. 1t has very strong sflinty for al
most all bodies, and the compounds thus
formed are called either Acids or Oxides.
The act of combining with oxygen is called
oridation, the former Of these possesses the
general properties of acids; the latter Of
bases, which. by uniting with The former,
produce saI,s;* thus sulphur and oxygen in
certain proportions form lime, base which
when united to the sulphuric acid produces
salt (sulpha,e Of lime or gypsum) The
phenomena attending oxidation are very
variable. Ordinary combustion is only OK
idation taking place in rapid manner; then
again it takes pace slowly without any
manifest development OF effects, as when
iron, zinc, or copper russ. The burning
Of wood and the rusling Of iron are both
examples of oxidation in the one case oc-
curing more rapidly than in the other, and
in each oxygen is obtained from the air
Ano,her instance Of slow oxidation is the
gradual decay, or slow combustion, Ere
macausis, as it has been termed by Baron
Liebg.l Of organic matter when exposed to
the air. By it all oIgsn'zed bodies are re-
solved into forms capable Of being used as
food for plants. 1t is this gas which when
brea,hed supports animal life, and almos,
all changes IN animate "r lnanima'e nature
take place in consequence of It's increase or
dImlnulnn.
xu,.droren is also essential to give SULPHUR acid