126

ORGANIC MANURE.

results produced by their decay. It lias been repeatedlystated that the substances formed by the decay oforganic matter are water, carbonic acid, and ammonia.The process of decay is, however, greatly modified bycircumstances.

390. Organic matter containing nitrogen decays farmore rapidly than that not containing this element(240, 280). It might have been supposed that undersuch circumstances the nitrogen would be given off in afree and uncombined state ; it is therefore remarkable tofind that, at the moment of escaping from one compound,it enters into combination with another element. Thisfact is important, and deserves a little further considera-tion, for it is found that at the moment of separationsubstances have a peculiar tendency to enter into freshcombination.

391. Substances in this state, or whilst being set atliberty by the decomposition of compounds which pre-viously contained them, are said to be in the nascentstate. It is always found that substances which havean affinity for each other, but under ordinary circum-stances cannot combine, are able to do so when in thenascent state.

392. All attempts have failed to cause the combina-tion of a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen gases; butwhen these two substances are in the nascent state theycombine readily, and ammonia is formed.

393. The rapidity with which animal substancesdecay or putrify depends on warmth, air, and moisture.