Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-26
ST. JOHNSBURY, FRIDAY, MAY 26. 1876.

experimental substance is submitted to
still greater degree Of heat by 6ro--excluded
from the free access Of air IN order to retain
the carbon--that the whole Of it is expelled.
Men aud animals also contain large per
cent Of water in their composition there is
no organized body but contains it in consid-
erablc quantity. Hence, as an ingredient
in the food of man and animals its import
ance becomes manifest it supplies one Of
the constituents Of the animal body. And
hence its presence in tho roots aud vegeta-
bes cultivated for food is necessity; If
found in considerable quantity, this should
not alone condemn them as nutritious food.
The water OF springs and brooks is more
or less impure. In its passage through the
earth it comes in contact with soluble matter,
and being a solvent of considerable power,
solid substances are dissolved and give to 1t
a more agreeable flavor as a beverage than
II entirely pure. Boiling expels this for
eign matter and renders it nearly pure; but
as beverage il becomes insipid. .a.l.
The purest water in its natural state is
that just fallen from the clouds yet this
contains more or less foreign matter. In its
passage through the air, il comes 10 contact
with solid matter in solutions that has arisen
in the vapors that are nearly always ascend
ing from the earth preparatory to rain.
Hence, its value as food for plants is in
creased in proportion to the earthly and
saline matter it may bring down in its de.
scent. At the same time the atmosphere is
purified, so that men aud animals breathe a
purer air aud receive now immunity from
disease. Who has not observed the marked
difference in the purity Of the atmosphere
after shower occurring at the close of a
protractod drouth, in the more easy play of
the lungs, and in the greater bouyancy Of
the spirits7 .'ls 1.'sa a."
The affinity Of water for certain solid sub
stances is remaykable--take newly burned
lime, for instance. Or the proportion may
be better expressed in this instance by revers-
ing it. Quicklime will absorb one-third Of
its weight Of water, become solid aud heavy
in proportion to the water absorbed. Before
the lime-rook was burned it was carbon
ate; it is now a hydrate, water having
taken the place of the carbonic acid The
water in the new compound can be expelled
entirely only by red heat. ....r
Water in our springs and streams always
contains quantity of air. Aud what is
quite singular, it has larger proportion of
oxygen than is present in the atmosphere
The presence Of air and the excess Of oxygen
it contains render water fit dwelling place
for numerous tribes Of animals, none Of
which upon the land or in the water can
live deprived of oxygen.
One of the most interesting if not the
most valuable properties of water is its power
to revive some species of vegetable and ami
NAL life after an apparent death Of several
years. A species of LycOpedlum growing
upon the rocks Of Manila dried several years
will revive and eIpand'its foliage when inn
mersed in water. Mr.. Bauer restored the
UiJro tritici "a species of worm) after an ap-
parent death of six years through the agency Of
water. Spallangini records tbs resuscitation
of anamAlcule after torpor Of 27 years
If it Should hereafter be discovered that
water will restore the human species after a
Rip Van Winkle sleep of 20 years, it will
be in greater demand and command better
price than at the coming centennial exhibi.
tion. g.
Wi'ningfoH.