Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-24
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.

MgssRs GALES & SEAT0E: have been much pleased
and instructed by reading the address Of Mr. HALLowrLL
especially in your paper which reaches SO large por
ton OF our citizens that dc not have to the ag
cultural journals popular address is apt to contain
ad captandua remarks, and 1t would be unfair to
critcse such production but il you will allow to
suppose that Mr. Halowe would prefer to be
sometimes and that you wish to encourage the popular
mind in the investigation of the natural sciences hope
you will publish the following
Mr. Haowe says: "It is the carbon Of the food prin
cpaly which, by the chemical condensation resulting
from its union with oxygen in the formation of carbonic
acid in the lungs, gives out heat to the body"
Now, is the oxygen that is condensed and not the
carbon and III well ascerained that the combustion Of
the carbon does not take place there at all AT all events
the temperature Of the lungs and the blood of the chest
does not differ from the rest Of the body would be the
case if this were the seat Of combustion
If allowed to issue theory would say that the spe-
cc heat of bodies is in proportion their organiza-
ton and the compexity of their composition. The
regeneration the blood and the organization of the
products Of Digestion and the absorption Of oxygen.
all spontaneously performed in the lungs; as tie
specific heat of these highly anmalzed products
differs from that of the separate elements that here unite
to compose them, the caorie Of the Oxygen remains in
latent form We then have the temperature Of the body
originating in all parts alike in proportion the erosion
lose their pitaiy and simple FORMS giving
out their latent heat would also suggest that the car
bonic acid is formed in the lungs but liberated there
from its previous combination in the blood by the
poetic acid screted the bronchial tubes Again says
The quantity Of soil usually taken for analysis is
teaspoonfuL" 81 would rely much more
knowledge of the associated rocks SC.
Now, suppose the same remark was made with regard
to the analysis of mineral spring. We know that the
mineral springs depend for their contents the dsinte
grafton of rocks through which they flow Could
we judge of the kind Of water well or spring by
the analysis inspection of the adjoining rocks? And
suppose the soil is alluvia and without rocks is it not
customary to test the water of the spring. and infer
from its contents the proportion Of soluble elements in
the soil through which it flows And can we not even
calculate the relative proportion in which the several ee
ments become soluble, and unhatgiy detect grain
of any element in barrel of water or one million Of
parts We should not be surprised at the variation of
mineral springs, but we should be surprised the want
uniformity field of grain when consider that the
soil has been turned and for hundreds of years.
narrowed and mixed together in oil possible directions
and then blended by the winds and rain
fit is difficult to get fair sample Of soil because diff
ferent parts of the field may differ composition
then how can Mr. Hallowell recommend the extensive
purchase and application of any special manure otter
trying it in comparison with others small part of the
field As proof of the uniformity of SOIL the absence
Of sulphuric acid frequently is uniformly manifested
throughout many neighborng FARMS and the absence of
phophoric acid uniformly manifested another neigh
borhood-he former by the uniform attendant on
the application of plaster the latter by the wonderful
effects Of bone earth-while both fail entirely in another
county
The defect then is not in the sample of the SOIL but
in the mode of analysis The of the land are
obtained by the crops through the agency of acdua
ted distilled water, is the soil heated to redness be.
fore planting the crop; but it is only the proportion soIu
bic in pure distilled water rain water) that is available
to the husbandman, and this only is of any immediate
practical Importance with reference the application of
manures The ultimate analysis of half teaspoonfu of
soil no nf he
estimation Of the soda in the glass of bottle proves that
it would have been unfit for the chemist keep his dis
TILED water in, all glass being sicate of soda pot
ash II the soda potash in soil is soluble in dis
titled water and cannot detect il in this menstruum
after it has been filtered through the soil after the man
of mineral spring we say that lime should be used to
dsace the potash soda and render soluble If we see
the soil those minerals that contain potash and soda
il detect these bases by the of acids
the other hand, experiment with different manures
as Mr.. Halowe suggests until we hit upon the right
kind. We hit upon quick-lime it benefits for time by
Fastening the disintegraon of the soil where the reafe
proportion Of potash phosphorc acid is deficient but
suppose there is an absolute deficiency, then it is found
that lime makes the fathers rich but poverishes the
children" Would il not be better to apply pure pow
dered eldspsr, containing potash than the best
hickory ashes or pure powdered phosphore, containing
three times much phosphorc acid the best Peruvian
guano and at third the price, provided zoe kno that
either potash phospherc acid relatively deficient
We do not hesitate say that both potash aud phos
porc acid exist in the water Of many springs and wells
and that others contain trace only that be
detected.
All physicians will agree that table salt is indicated in
certain diseases, but will refuse give il because
the honest physician Acknowledges his ignorance Of the
exact number Of grains that will be required in any case
The practical knowledge that want is what element
is deficient. And is it merely deficient in soluble FORM
is it absolutely deficient Is it possible that learned
unite in saying that until balances improved
and modes Of analysis perfect detect
part Of potash sulph6c phosphorc acid In six
hundred thousand C000 00) parts Of soi Where doc
tors disogree should, the democratic prncple an
peal to the people decide. And propose such an APP
peal If bushels of pure sand placed In many
bags and three Of the bags known to contain one
grain of soluble potash suphuric acid or phosphoric
acid OF part in hundred thousand ZOO O0OD
and ten dollars offered by any agricultural society
for their detection, days will not capse before
its accomplishment; and if premium of one hundred
dollars is offered, approximation to their proportion
will be exhibited in the period of time And this
should forever set at rest the assertion that cannot be
DONE and that chemical analysis should be confined to
pers in the profession Every intelligent farmer should
hereafter be educated to his own fields in the simplest
mode and the facts that clearly revealed by the
researches of the profession The apparatus that would
be required is not complicated the threshing
chine which is not only arranged and used but under
stood by many farmer who cannot write his own name
can remember when some of the learned physi-
clans pronounced the modern mode of detecting disease
by physical signs Of {" no practical Importance
and was Of the class in a university when who
stood at the head Of the medical profession in the United
States called the stethescope conjuring horn when
lecurng the theory and practice of medicine And IL
said that the first steamship that crossed the
brought with her book that proved il impossible
navigate the ocean by steam.
take il for granted that Mr. Hallowel Is not aware
that enerprisng gentlemen in Baltimore have been
engaged for year past in carrying the very idea he
IL a. g. - .4~.- H.