INDIANA FARMER.
Scientific agriculture—no. 6,
BY PROFESSOR  B. LAWRENCE.
DEVOTED   TO   AGRICULTURE,    HORTICULTURE,   MECHANICS,   AND   THE    USEFUL   ARTS.
VOL. I.] RICHMOND,   IND.,   MAY   15,1852. [NO. 19
COMMUNICATIONS. j     Oxygen   cannot exist  alone  in   any  other
7^^™^^"~ j form than a gas, or transparent, invisible air;
but it manifests a greediness beyond anything
else in nature, to combine with almost every
other substance known. When it combines
with iron, it makes the reddish substance called
Oxygen. rust. ^.j^  jearj) *t forms a greyish   substance
Itis surprising how many forms and appear- called dross; combined with any metal, it des-
ances the same elementary substances may take, troys its malleability, and forms an ore of that
and how many purposes it may serve in the metal. United with carbon, it forms carbonic
economy of nature. Take for example, thej acid, a substance which is very destructive to
commonest of all subtances—water, which j animal, but healthful and nourishing to vegeta-
conimonl? presents itself to us in the form of a | ble life; with sulphur, it forms sulphuric acid,
transparent liquid, and is governed by the laws or oil of vitrol; with nitrogen, it forms nitric
of hydrostatics; while at another, it exhibits | acid or aqua fortis; and with hydrogen it forms
th'e properties of a chrystal rock,  and is then \ water.
governed by the laws of solids; and at another, It is remarkable for the energy with which ;t
it presents itself to us in the form of invisible acts. whenevor it is made t0 separate from one
vapor, or steam, with the strength of a Hercules, 8ubstance> ;t manifests the greatest ereediness to
to do our bidding, and will work for us with all unite wi.h SOme other, and this union always
the docility of the tamed elephant. Itis then g;vea off heat. h is thc union of oxygen ^
governed by another set of laws peculiar to J the Bui,stance 0f wood and coal, that makes the
elastic fluids. So much for the purpose of il-|heat of ourfires. It is the essential and active
lustrating the substance which is the subject of, insredient in the atm0sphere; and in the act of
the present number." breathing,  it unites with the  elements   ofthe
Oxygen is the most abundant substance in j blood, and gives out the heat that constitutes
nature; it performs a more important part, andjthe warmth of animals. Although water con-
enters into a greater variety of combinations,! sists of eight-ninths oxygen chemically combin-
than any other elementin the material universe.! ed with hydrogen, it it is capable of absorbing,
The air we breath is more than one fifth oxygen, \ or holding ia solution, as it does salt or su^ar,
and it is this which keeps us alive. The waters an additional quantity uncombined with any-
webreath, is eight-ninths oxygen; the food which $ thing else, and ready to combine with the first
We eat, whether it be vegetable or animal, is thing that it meets with, that is not already sat-
more than half oxygen; and the same is true of! urated with it. In this condition oxygen is con-
the fuel which makes our fires, and the clothes! veyed into the circulation of plants by the water
which keep us warm. Nor is this all; it con-j which enters into them through their roots and
stitutes, not much less; if any, than one half j unite with their various elements, as they have
of the ponderable globe. Without it neither; need of it. Plants have not thc power of sep-
animal nor vegetable could live one hour. Not! arating oxygen from its combination with hy-
only does the substance of all organic beings'drogen, or in other words, of decomposing wat-
consist of more than one half oxygen, but they]er, but they can separate that which is in a free
must be immersed in an atmosphere of oxygen jor uncombined state from the water, in which it
all the time, or they will die in a few minutes.!is dissolved, and thus obtain their needed sup-
Fire cannot burn without a constant supply of; ply.
oxygen, from the air. I       Rain-water   contains   more   oxygen   than
It cannot require much argument, then, to (other, and for that reason is more nourishing to
convince \ii that a substance which acts so im- vegetation. Consequently it is necessary that
portant a part in the economy of nature should soils should be sufficiently pulverized and light;
be understood by all who wish to know any-ithat the rains may sink readily into them to the
thing of her mysterious operations, j roots of the plants.