, 1872-03-09

and lime, or carbonate OF lime. The Silica
is found in various degrees of ~ineness,
from that of an impalpable powder, as it
occurs in clay soils, up through sand, gra-
vel, and more or less rounded sand stones.
The aLumina is generally found IN the
form of clay, but occasionally occurring IN
shay or s!aty masses, more or less hard,
intermingIed with soil. The lime is found
in the form Of chalk aud mari, or in the
fragments of various limestones that are met
with near the surface il different parts OF
the country. A soil is called SANITY when
s%iIicious sand p~redominates. CatcareouS
when chalk, mari or limestone is present
in consi IerabIe quantities. clay, when
alumina forms q large portion OF the soil.
Carton is the name given by chemists
to the substance OF wood charcoal IN its
purest form. Heated in the air, charcoal
burns with little flame, and with the eX-
ception of the ash which is left, entirely
disappears It is converted into a kind OF
air known among chemists by the name OF
carbonic acid, which ascends as II ls formed
and minglcs with the atmosphere.
All vegetable substances contain a very
Iarga portion of carbon. 1t forms from 40
to so per cent, by weight, of all the parts
OF plants, in their dried state, which are
cultivated for the food Of animals or man.
ChaYcoais obtained from wood, have the
power of absorbing in large quantities into
their pores, the gaseous substances and va
pors which exist in the atmosphere, and on
this property the use of charcoal powder as a
manure probably depends. 1t also Sc
parates from water and decayed animal
matter colouring substances which they
NAV hold in solution hence its use IN
filters for purifying and sweetening impure
waters, or for Clarifying syruPs or oils.
In or upon the soil charcoal will act IN
the same manner, will absorb gaseous sub
stances, and from the rain and flowing wa
ters, organized matters of various kinds,
which it will be in a condition to yield to
the plants which grow around it.
Hence animal food keeps longer sweet
when placed in contact with charcoal so
also Vegetable substances, containing
much water, such as potatoes, yams, tanyas
etc. are more completely preserved by
the aid of a quantity CT charcoal. 50 also
the refuse charcoal of sugar reiners will
deprive night-soiI Of It's dlsagreeable odor,
and convert it into a dry AMI portable
manure if properly proportional in its III
termiXture,
Orygsn is q substance with which we
are acquainted only in the gaseous or aeri-
form state, By the unaided senses it can
not be distinguished from common air,
If lighted taper be plunged into it, the
fame is very much increased, and the Ia
per burns away with very great rapidity,
This gus has a similar effect upon ami
NAL life. When a living animal is placed
in a vessel filled with oxygen, the rapidity
of the circulation is increased, all the vital
functions are stimulated and excited, a
state of fever on, and the animal
dies. It exists in the atmosphere to the
amount of 81 per cent of its bulk, and this
state of air is necessary to the existence OF
animals and plants, and to the support of
combustion. I shall now draw your at
tention to the soils and manures suited to
the cultivation of the sugar cane, the prin-
cipal production of Agriculture in our Is
land.
It is evident how needful it is, to the