Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-15
From the New-England Farmer.
GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.


Mr.. EDIToR-I purpose in this to offer few re-
marks in continuation Of my former communca
ton on the subject of Geology and Agriculture
and my object will be to make use ofsuch language
and illustrations will be understood by the great
mass Of common farmers. We hard working and
hard handed farmers to be benefited by the labors
and researches of the learned must have " Science
made easy"
One of the most indispensable inorganic constit-
uens of all plants is potash. There IS not single
plant in the field or the wood the ashes of which
does not contain IL III one state of combination OF
or another and oflen in very large quantty-so
much So that the belief was once entertained that
plants had the power OF generating it within them
selves; but more modern researches have clearly
pointed out the source whence it is derived and the
manner in which plants obtain it,
The foundation, as 1t were, of this earth, or the
first consolidation that took place from the moulten
state, was the primary rock-granite. This is com
posed of three mineras-quartz, felspar and mica
Quartz is the very hard, fnty part of granite; ii
is often found alone and pure, and is frequently
called rock crystal, white tilnt-rock, &c. &C. 1t is
however, of different colors-whte rose, and smo-
ky. In its chemical quality, it is considered of an
| acid nature.
Felspar is not so hard, although in its appear.
ance it very much resembles quartz but it is very
different in its chemical qualities, it contains
some twelve or fifteen per cent of potash that is
can, ny lOU luS Ol pure ltlSpul
obtain IL or Is lbs. Of pot or pearash; but as il
costs more to obtain pound of potash in this way
than many pounds are worth, it would not be very
profitable manufacture for man to engage in.
Mica (isinglass) contains six or seven per cent
of potash. These three minerals as mixed up in
our granite rocks, usually yield upon an analysis
about seven per cent. of potash
Quartz Tor slick, or silica, it is usually termed
in agricultural chemistry is not fusbe IN the hot
test fire, soluble IN the strongest acids; but il
mixed with alkalies, soda potash in certain pro-
portions, and subjected to strong heat it readily
melts, and forms glass. If mixed in the proportion
of one part slick and three of potash, it can be
melted, and forms soluble glass; that Isl it will
readily dissolve in boiling water as sugar or salt
| does.
"Sex Quartz enters into the composition of all
plants, and forms the skeleton for the support of the
sap vessels, and it also constitutes the entire cpl
dermis or external skin (glaze) on the corn stalk
the stems of grasses, and the straw Of wheat and
other grains"-and Oh some of the rattans and BAN
boos there is such hard coating to emit sparks
Of fire when struck by flint.
Acids and alkalies react upon each other: de-
composing vegetable matters produce carbonic and
vegetable acids IN our forests this decomposition
is always going on, from the rotting of the fallen
leaves twigs, branches and trunks Of trees. The
water and moisture in the soil, saturated with these
acids, act upon and dissolve the potash in the fell
spar and mica of the granite, and as much the lar
ger part of our soils is derived from the disintegra-
ted and finely pulverized granite, the soil contains
Il large amount of potash, in the stones, pebbles
and finer parts the potash being liberated by the
acids, in its turn acts upon and dssolves the slick
and in solution they are taken up by the rootets OF
the plants, and the slick is deposited upon the sur
face of many species of plants, in hard glaze, OF
coating, and every tube or sap vessel in the trunk
and branches of trees, is lined with coating of the
same mineral
Watts and tubs that have long been used for leach
ing ashes, have the sllex dissolved out, and the
woody fibre being insolube by the alka, is left
behind and very much resembles fax. Chemists
give to this fbrous tissue the name of Hgnin. Pa
per makers, in manufacturing paper from straw,