Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-12-04
Che -, farm.


There are two facts in the functions of the leaf.
which are worth consideration on account of
their practical bearings. The food of plants is.
for the most part. taken in solution, through its
roots. Various minerals-silcX lime, a%lbunen.
mapnesia. potassa-are passed into the tree in a
dissolved state. The sap passes to the leaf, the
supcrlous water is given of. but not the SUBJ
stances which it held in solution. These. in part,
are distributed through the plant. and, in part.
remain as a deposit in the cells of the leaf
Gradually the leaf chokes up. its functions are
impeded. and finally entirely stopped. When the
leaf drops it contains a large per cent. of mineral
matter. An autumnal or old leaf Yields. upon
ANALYSIS. , very much larrcr proportion ofcarthv
matter than a vernal leaf. which. being vet Young.
has no, received within its cells any considerable
denosit. II will be found also that the leaves
contain a very much biolcr per cent. of mineral
matter than the wood Of the trunk. The dried
leaves of the elm contain more than eleven per
cant. of ashes. (ear,by mattcr) while the wood
contains les than two per cent; those Of the
willow, more than eight per cent. while the
wood has only O.45: those crthe beech $50. the
wood only c. SO those ofthe lEuropean)oak l.O5.
the wood only III. those of the mitch nine BIB.
the wood only O.oj pcr cent.
II is very nlaip. from these facts. that. in for.
ests. the mineral ingredients of the soil perform
, sort Of circulation: ENTERING the root. thew ire
deposited in the leaf: then. with it. fall to the
earth. and. by its decay. they are restored to the
soil. AGAIN to travel their Circuit. Forest soils
therefore. instead of being IMPOVERISHED by In,
growth of trees. receive back annually tn,
Creates, nronor,ion of those mineral element,
necessary TO the tree, and. besides. much organ
lied natter received into fine pllnt from the at
mcs9hcr,: soils. therefore. are gaining instca,
oflosinr. If owners of marks or groves. for noa,
49, II. -, H.: l.,,..- g., ,l,- ,-.,-,.
rather the annual harvest of leaves. they will. il
fime take away rrpat ouantities of mineral mat
ter. bv which the soil, Ultimately. will be impov
or;shed unless i, i, restored bv ,nanures.
Leaf. manure has always been held in HIGH eS
teem nv On rdeners. But many REGARD it as
nurelv vc9etable substance: whereas. it is tn
he's, mineral manure that can be applied TO tn
.o;l Wit ara ,lIod vcra,ahIe loans lno, nna
so;is ,n,dn m n,incinaUv If dncomnosod roots
so, a. - r,n,;tins IF oor,by ,a1o,,or hoin
nnnra ahIo rotLor ,hon vc,,o,aLIo soiIs
- rJano. 1bnrLI tnan, ,Lat ,Lo la.
-, ,I,n, l., ,bo Joooo,aosoJ Ioar,
~ " 80! Pn'''ot 80 - Wv III Cn, T
"ni f.L :, 81,
49, ~ rinps' honin, w." amd aba. ,onM,GI IT.
- = ' rardon ""N ~ 's
et ~ y, nc sa.No"' .., =.
! o''I ,"L. ~ ". d - u
!unct,ohs y eAn'nlioh' ne sIro'est p'oPo'
uoh OF crnue sap Which a'cehas 'he trunk, upo.
reacn'h9 tne iea'' Is gwen iortn aga,h to'he a.
mosphere' W nieahs oia paruculary pea't'i'
coo"o,hy' IL I"uHt''y " mustn't P'ouuoe
py d Piai' II haru'! drea"ieu oi ny ,losc WI
nave nt sPecaty informed themselves ~
experiments " MUS nave Deeh oi'eh quoled'
su'-io"er' 'hree leet ana a nan high' preSenuh
asu''acec o'olo square 'ncneS exposed 10 III
sun, was iouhu I" Pcr,P're at 'he ra'e OF 'weh'
unl.! ounGus a.oIIuupois every 'We'Ne IouI
OF GnNnn1nn n lines mora imam "a man n VII