Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-04-12
SECTION TENTH.
Mineral Salts or Wonures,


Having thus considered the salts derived
from the animal, let us now proceed to those
derived from the mineral kingdom. Among
these we shall find some whose action is SIM
liar to that of the animal salts. That is,
they are true nourishers of plants.
They afford, by the action Of the growing
plant, the same elements as the animal salts.
OF this nature is saltpe,re. Now. readei,
want you to understand by saltpetre, not on
ly tina, wel-known substance, but also that
which has lately been much used in farming,
South American satpetre. This differs from
common satpetre by changing its potash for
soda. One step more | want you to un-
derstand by sa,petre, not one SALT but, in
farming. class of salts that is, a number,
having the same acid, which may be comb-
ned with several different bases which all
act one way. Saltpetre being a salt, of
course must be composed of an acid and
base. The acid is always aqua-iorlis or
nitric acid. The base may be potash, or
soda, or lime, or ammonia. These all mag
he called salt-petre. In forming salpctre.
II is generally that variety which contains
lime aud aqna-iorts which is procured. So
far as we understand the action of salts, and
this has been fully explained, the action of
the varieties of saltpelre is the same ; and
were il not for the peculiar nature of the
aqna-fortIs or acid of saltpetrc, the explana-
ton of the action Of this salt might be refer
red to the general laws above set FORTH But
the acid of saltpelre is composed of volatile
ingredients. 1t is nothing more nor less than
Al, al.
Surprising as it may seem, reader, yet it is
not the less true, the common air is IA mix
ture of oxygen and nitrogen. What bland
and harmless. yea, what "A hcalthful blessing
is air, not only to US but to plants! 1t is IA
mere mixture, not chemical compound, a
mere mixture. In every hundred parts
eighty of nitrogen, twenty of oxygen. Yet
/ ifyou compel, as natural operations are con-
tinually compelling the air to unite chemi.
cally, so that fourteen parts of nitrogen shall
unite to forty parts of oxygen, YOU will form
aqua-torls. Now do not mean to troubl,
your head further with the chemistry of salt.
petre, than merely to say, that having thus
shown you the composition and origin of the
acid fall kinds of sallpetrc, you will readil,
see, that substance which affords such al
abundance of nitrogen, cannot but be bene
fetal to plants. This nitrogen may and pro
badly does form some portion of ammonia il
the soil. 1t may enter as nitrogen into tn,
plants dissolved in water as very veal
aqua-torlis.
We have said so much upon the action o
ammonia and nitrogen, that you will per
ceive how important part nitro is likely It
play in manure. Not only does the nitrogen
&C, here, but the oxygen, the other compo
nent of the acid, also acts. 1t acts upon tn
mould as air itself would. Besides, the mou
of soil and manure imbibcs and condense
this oxygen in its pores, and consequent
heats little; so that sallpctre, whether ad
ded as such to soil, or formed IN manure, IA
f it is always, helps TO warm little the sol
like fermenting manure. SO far as lhes
effects are desirable they may be expecte
from the use of sallpelre. But this, reader
1t you buy your salipetre, is procuring
g small elect at great price. The action {
, the alkai OF saltpe,re is not different fror
e alkai in other shapes and therefore if 70
A have money to lay out for salts, let me advis
h you, reader. to spend it rather for ashes tina
for sallpetre.
- ITO be coninued)