SUBJECTS AND IMPORTANCE OF CHEMISTRY.

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SECT. II.

SUBJECTS and IMPORTANCE

OF

CHEMISTRY.

XXLL material bodies are the subjects of chemical research.The solid matters composing the terrestrial mass of the globe weinhabit; the aqueous fluids which penetrate its cavities, or floatabout its surface ; the more subtle gazeous matter circumfusedaround it; the agencies of heat, light, and other imponderablesubstances expanded through space, are subjects for the chemicalphilosopher.

The events which chemistry holds out are equal to, and per-haps more important than those which belong to mechanicalphilosophy. It extends itself into the province of active life. Itis die nursing modier and guide of innumerable important arts.The arts of dying, bleaching, tanning, glass -making, printing, theworking of metals, &c. are purely chemical. Agriculture canonly be rationally improved by calling in the assistance of thechemical philosopher ; for it is chemistry which explains thephenomena of vegetation, germination, die growth, the ripen-ing, and the death of plants.

The Gardener, whose employments are more curious thanthose of the farmer, equally needs its assistance. The natureof the different manures necessary for the various kinds of vege-tables, the influence of light, the different temperatures, thequantity of moisture, the preservation of seeds, roots, plants,See. are all founded upon chemical principles.

Chemistry likewise directs the labours of the husbandmanand the rural-economist. In the dairy milk cannot be kept

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