Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-07-26

A G R | c u L L U r A l..
From the N. T.. Farmer.
ACID IN SOIL


Although by some il may not be con-
sidered perfectly comparative with my
prof ssional avocation, | plead guilty 10 a
great interest in the cause Of agriculture,
aud especially to those applications OF SCI
ence which promise so much benefit TO
those engaged in that pursuit. Among
the journals devoted to the farming inter-
est, into which 1 occasionally look, is
yours; and in the one Of May IL, | OBJ
served a paper from Mr.. During, Of New
llavea, on the subject Of sorrel. or the,eX-
islence OF acid in soils. On this paper,
with your leave, wish TO make remark
or two.
And first, Mr.. During seems 10 be IN.
certain whether the acid of the common
sorrel (RlmeT GcetosG) is the same as
that of wool sorfel GOALS aceLoSeita J
There can be no doubt as to the identity
of the acid. Il is the same in both the
oxllic acid and it is the sane that is
found 10 The gentian, bistort, and rhu5arb
or pie pant, so much cultivated In our
gardens In all these plants, the acid is
in combination with potash; but in some
other vegetables such os the rock lichens
or moses, in which this acid is abundant
il is combined with lime. Oxaiic acid is
yerv soluble in water, but when 10 COM
bination with lime, it forms one of the
most insoluble compounds, and hence from
this cause, and from their affinity for each
other, they are frequently used as tests OF
each Others presence. Now il appears
evider,. that a mere solution Of the chrvs-
tails OF oxal;c acid, does not destroy It's
character, and If the solution should take
place in The earth, or If a decomposition
Of the oxalale of potash as il exists in sor-
rel, rhubarb, &C., takes place in the soil, il
must remain in solution, and consequently
liable 10 be taken up by plants, unless re-
combination in some other form takes
place.
The extensive and varied experiments
Of Mr.. Ruffin, and his able reasoning
founded on them, in his valuable work on
the Siect of lire and mari as manures,
would seem 10 demonstrate that acids do
exist in soil, both free, and in Stale oil
combination; and as the Iime combines
with the acid readily 10 form oxaate oil
lime, and paris with it most reluctantly, il
would seem reasonable that oxalate OF line
may be formed in this way and it 81, the
use Of lime as a corrective ot acidity, mus
DC apparent. A number of years since,
| lived ia district in which hemlock tim-
Der was abundant. The soil was frequent
" deep 6ue loam, but produced sorre
in most instances SO profusely as to leave
little room for any thing else. This was
attributed 10 the "s3urness" communicat
ed 10 the soil from the annual fall and dc
composition of the leaves Of the hemlock
as these are known TO contain nppreciabl'
quantities Of acid. The remedy for this
was thorough burning Of the surface
and hence ia clearing hem lock land, grea
care was laken to expose as much Of III
surface TO the operation Of The fire as pos
sible. This was the resul. Of experience
md IS explained on the-eronnd that th
fire, by the formation oil an aikalI on tn
surface, converted the acid into oxala,e G
potash; cr Il the soil contained lime, int
oxalale OF lime; in either of which form
it would be less injurious than in its fire
state. The same result would take plac
If quick line was applied to the soil : lh
acids would enter into combination wiz, 4 j
and in that state being insoiuble, or nea
ly so. could not furnish the material essen
tial 70 the formation Of acid plants. Ii af
Ter the application Of the lime. the acit
was still in excess, sorrel might sill grow
in spite Of the nlkaIi; anil this fIct might
be ndduced to account for Mr.. Dlring'
sorrel that grew on The verge Of the lime
kiln.
lido NOT assert that free oxalic acid ever
exists in s1ils. though il is scarcely posi-
bic TO conceive it should not be so and ia
q state Of solution, experience proves that