Liebig Justus. Organic Chemistry in its Applications to Agriculture and Physiology

Edited by L. Playfair. — London: Taylor and Walton, 1840. — 414 p.One of the most remarkable features of modern times is the combination of large numbers of individuals representing the whole intelligence of nations, for the express purpose of advancing science by their united efforts, of learning its progress, and of communicating new discoveries. The formation of such associations is, in itself, an evidence that they were needed.
It is not every one who is called by his situation in life to assist in extending the bounds of science; but all mankind have a claim to the blessings and benefits which accrue from its earnest cultivation. The foundation of scientific institutions is an acknowledgment of these benefits, and this acknowledgment proceeding from whole nations may be considered as the triumph of mind over empiricism.
Innumerable are the aids afforded to the means of life, to manufactures and to commerce, by the truths which assiduous and active inquirers have discovered and rendered capable of practical application. But it is not the mere practical utility of these truths which is of importance. Their influence upon mental culture is most beneficial; and the new views acquired by the knowledge of them enable the mind to recognise, in the phenomena of nature, proofs of an infinite wisdom, for the unfathomable profundity of which, language has no expression.
At one of the meetings of the chemical section of the "British Association for the Advancement of Science", the honourable task of preparing a report upon the state of organic chemistry was imposed upon me. In the present work I present the Association with a part of this report.
I shall be happy if I succeed in attracting the attention of men of science to subjects which so so well merit to engage their talents and energies, perfect agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry it is the foundation of the riches of states. But a rational system of agriculture cannot be formed without the application of scientific principles; for such a system must be based on an exact acquaintance with the means of nutrition of vegetables, and with the influence of soils and action of manure upon them. This knowledge we must seek from chemistry, which teaches the mode of investigating the composition and of studying the characters of the different substances from which plants derive their nourishment.The chemical processes in the nutrition of vegetables.
The chemical processes of fermentation, decay, and putrefaction.