Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/352

320&#93; 320] FOO to the digestive organ, and imparts a degree of acrimony to the human fluids, which has a remarkable ten- dency to generate putrid diseases, suc'i as the scurvy of mariners. 1 — Hence it would be a desirable ob- ject to ascertain, by accurate ex- periments, whether beef, pork, &rc. might not be kept fresh at sea for many months, merely by burying it in charco al-powder, of which it could be easily divested by proper ablution. Such is our decided opi- nion, and Ave venture to recom- mend this important subject to the farther researches of patriotic in- quirers. With respect to the quantity of food, there is one general rule, which ought never to be disregard- ed ; namely, to cease eating, when the first cravings of appetite are satisfied, so as to renovate the waste which the body has appa- rently sustained. Bv a strict ad- herence to this principle, many of those distressing complaints arising from intemperance, might be effec- tually obviated ; and our fashiona- ble watering-places would not be to frequently crowded by the vic- tims of luxury. Food of Plants, an expression in agriculture and gardening, by which is understood whatever tends to increase the growth, or affords nourishment to vegetable produc- tions. The proper choice and distribu- tion of this food, in such manner as to ensure the* greatest advantagi to regetation, is an object deserv- ing the most attentive exertion of every skilful husbandman. — The ponent parts of the nourish- ment of plants are supposed to be air, heat, water, earth, and nitre; but it is by no means ascertained, which of these ingredients priiici- F O O pnlly contributes to their growl*/ and reproduction. Various opinions have been held respecting the existence of an a 'rial acid spirit ; but, from the late dis- coveries in chemistry-, this invisible agent appears to be no other than what is now termed ottyge'n gas, or the acidifying principle, by the powerful influence of which even iron is oxydated, or converted into rust : and, as this vital gas is an essential constituent of the atmos- phere, all plants necessarily par- take of its animating properties. Thus nitre is said to nourish them; because it contains a large portion of oxygen ; though it is certain that saltpetre only prepares other sub- stances to effect that purpose:, thus, if nitre, in a solid or liquid state, be applied to the root of a plant, it will destroy it; but if it be placed at a distance, it attenu- ates, and decomposes the viscous and naturally pernicious matters contained in the earth, so as to render them lit for supplying vege- tables with nutriment. Water contributes to the growth of plants in a very material degree: hence arose, the art of floating land in dry seasons, without which ve- getables would perish for want of moisture. — See Irrigation. Air, on account of its elasticity, is absolutely necessary to the incre- ment of vegetables ; warmth is of equal importance, because no plant can thrive without some degree of heat. But, doubtless, the chief ar- ticle is earth; which, being pre- pared by the nitrous, and other volatile salts, such as are generated^ in dung, not less than by water ami air, is assimilated tky the - nature of plants ; constitutes a pari oftbern; and 7s inseparable from them: but, if water, air, and heat, be taken away,