Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-21

charine matter contained In the circulating
fluids may be saved, that might otherwise be
expended by the plant in the subsequent sta
ges of growth and in the maturatlOn Oh inc
seed.
Tho proper or exact time at which TO cut
the plant after being topped, in order 70 oo-
tain the greatest amount of saccharlne matter
from its iuices was not stated; but Is 10 DC
ascertained by observation and experiences.
The juices Of this plant having grea. zen
dency to run into the acetous iefmen.aaop'
tion Of our atmosphere, its heat and moisture
al the time when it must be cut, they render
ing IL difficult to convert juices, at that time
into sugar or molasses, it was proposed to
make use Of some means in order to cure or
dry the plant when cut, that it might be stored
for subsequent use when the temperature of
the atmosphere might serve to counterac. this
tendency. Might not this object be attained
by curing the plant in the same way as nj any
farmers cure their corn provender; by setting
it up in the field when cut, taking care that
the shocks be made of such size and in such
manner as to secure full ventilation, or the
free circulation of air through every part!
The most important point in regard to this
subject is the adoption Of some efficient mode
of converting the juices of this plant, whether
In Its green or dry state, into sugar or mo-
lasses. This point was not settled, nor was 1t
much dwelt upon, but it is very desirable To at
a large share of the inventive talent Of our
country should be directed to the accomplish
ment Of this most important object.
The debate that incidentally spraDg up 90
the subjects of agricultural chemistry and the
animalcuies or pOlyg istrca Of Ehrenberg was
not calculated TO throw much light on the gen
eraI subject or to afford any useful instruction
to the Society l am disposed to doubt if az
riculture ever has or ever will derive any ma
terial benefit from either of these branches Of
study-sciences they are not Thus conclusion
is founded on few very plain reasons: 1st,
In the chemical analysis Of soils and Of plants
many substances are formed during the pro-
cess that had no existence in the matter an
allied but arc first formed in the crucible or
Ietort. p, The living organized body Of a
plant cannot, as such, be subjected to ana
! lysis. Before this can be done, an important
and radical change must be effected in Il z
nature and character of the body. 1t must,
as the first step towards its analy sis, be con
verted into a ass of dead, inert matter and
| then the chemical compounds are formed In the
process and exhibited as constituents of the
plant, but which, in fact, had no place in its
body whom alive. Again, the living plant alb.
serbs the materials Of nutriment from various
sources or substances in the soil, and these
! materials are assimilated or acted on by its
vital energies until they are converted into
one DOLnoEeEeOuS mass, tDe circulating q,
err peculiar juice Of the plant, and out of this
homogeneous mass the organized body and its
seq erai parts are elaborated. The common
Opt ion that plants select particular substan-
ces fl ON the soil, ana that these substances,
uncaa nged, become a part of the body of the
plant Is entirely erroneous. The agricultu-
rist, III this connection, is accomplished when
lie furn. shes his plant with food or manure in
such qua nifty and such variety as its instincts
require. For tho reasons now given, l think
il will be q, knowledged th at the deductions OF
agricultural chemists are entitled to but little
regard from practical agriculturists
The obJectL )ns that arise 10 infefeDces drawn
from observst ;ons made with the microscope
are: LIST, That 40 two observers have given the
samo Representa- ton Of the objects observed
the accounts We have Of the same objects from
different obse rvers not only contain many dis.
crepancies, but are frequently fatty contra
dicttry; q, 7 be objects to be observed are 20
extremely min ute, q 1000 of line, or of a
tenth part Of slf ZACH y and are seen SO dmly
and imperfectly. that a large fold or scope is
presented for the exercise of the imagination
indeed, observe rs commonly see whatever
their imagination prompts or suggests; and
I'd, doubt net th. II many objects represented
10 be, and supposed to be, snimslcules are the
seeds os plants and minute particles of inert
matter; so that conclude that it is not essen
tial to the interests Of agriculture that much
interest be taken Ii the curious descriptions
Of monads by Ehrsnberg, or in the still more
Imaginative representations of such objects By
Bufgn. A FARMER.
Jerusry 18Th, 1857.