The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-12-03
Arric,,IlntnI CI,enl,frY.

there are essential ingredients in soils,
which tits Of the highest importance we
should understand. Il is inconIroyena-
BILE that the salts existing in soils consti-
iuie but very small portion ofthe whole
mass oflhe soil--ihat they are not 10 be
deemed accidental. but entirely indis-
pensable to plants, which according to
their respective nature admit one or all
other intn their circulation. and perishing
for want ofthe appropriate salt. BY salts
we must understand all those substances
which consist Of a base united with an
acid. Tho principal bases are Poiasss,
Soda, Lime. and Magnesia. which enter
into the composition of all fertile soils.
The acids with which these ordinarily
combine are the Carbonic, the Sulphuric
and phosphoric.-By burning plants,
their combinations appear in ashes. An
examination Of the properties Of their
principal salts and their components,
sheds a great light upon the subject. Let
us beg in with the bases These are dis.
covered to be metallic oxydes. the pure
metals of which we're obtained bySirHum-
,Phry Davy. and they are denominated re-
specIiyely, potassium, calcium; and mag.
nesium, and bone baryles, barium, &c.
But potassium, which is The one most
easily obtained, may be taken as a type
ofthe class. 1t isa glttering metal much
like silver, but clear as water. 1t has
some quality in common with sodium.
When current Of water is passed over
it, it is decomposed with great rapidity
devolving lis oxygen. Ii often changes
red color 10 blue. 1t combines with 9th
er acids, forming neutral salts, which are
obtained by evaporation. The other al
kaline metals follow the same process.
but not SO energetically as paassinm.
The proportions in which they combine
are 40 parts potassium, Sof oxygen; ma.
king AS of potassa, 81 parts of sodium,
with S of oxygen, making SO of soda.
Knowing the great importance of this
TO farmerto know what amount his soil
contains of potash, OF Of soda, we pre-
sent them distinctly. Take portion of
the soil, and put il into,boling water, and
then strain it through filter. The wa.
ter will exact allthe solublepnrtions--t then
dry by evaporation, and the salt remain
ling will show by its form. its solubiliiy,
and by the action of the air upon it when
exposed, what base it contains. That
base will generally be found combined
with Sulphuric acid. When sulphate of
potash is present it will be discovered
by its slow solution and is permanency
when exposed to the air. Some plants
receive from the soil minute portions of
alkali, while others absorb an immense
quantity. Some plants, montena for ex-
ample, contain considerable quantity OF
sulphur, which combining with oxygen.
developes the offensive gas sulphurated
hydrogen. as is often found in fire arms
when neglected. and with pulrid eggs
To this is owing the nauseous smell OF
water in which vegetables may have
been cooked. So with the water near
the mouths of rivers especially on the
coast of Africa. The copper of ships
anchored there rapidly decays, and this
is the attributed cause of the unbealtli-
ness ofthose shores. The best test ofits
presence is sugar of lead in solution,
which in short time shows itself produ-
cling sulphurat of lead. Sulphurat by
drogen is then unquestionably perniciou,
to animal life, but not to vegetables, fol
to some ofthem sulphur is necessary; it il
essential in mustard, cabbages, and in [
large class ofplants. Scientific Amcr.
serpents I'm Pile in South America.
In the Savannahs of Izacnbo, in Guinea
saw the most wonderful, the mcst terri
BILE spectacle that can be seen; and al
though it he not uncommon to the inhabi
tants, ITO traveller has ever mentioned i
We were ten men on horseback, two o
whom took the lead, in order 10 sound tn,
passages, whilst preferred to skirt thu
great forests. One Of the blacks VIII,
formed the Vanguard, returned full gal
lop, and called TO me-"Here sir, come
and see serpens in pile" He pointet
out to me something elevated in The mid
die of the Savannah or swamp; which ap
peared like bundle of arms One o
my company then said-"this is certainl,
one of the assemblages ofserpents. .whicl
heap themselves TN each other after
+, violent tempest; l have heard of these
but have never seen any; let us procee,
cautiously, and not go too near" Who
within about twenty PAGES of it, the tel
3 ror of our horses prevented our near ap
proach, to which none ofus were incline
On sudden, the pyramid mass be
4 came agitated; horrible kissing issue
I from it, thousands Of serpents rolled spiI
ally OH each other, shot forth out Of til
! circle their hideous heads, presentin
their envenomed darts and fiery eyes l
! us. own was one ofthe first TO dra,
g back; but when | saw this formidabl
!, phaianx remained at its post. and appear
y ed more disposed to defend itself than
r attack, | rode around it, in order TO vie'
: its order of battle. which faced the enc
my on every side. then sought whs
could be the design of this numerous as
9 semblage; and | concluded that this spe
J, cies of serpents dread some collpssea
: enemy. which might be the great serpen
: or cayman, aud that they reuni;e then
Q selves after having seen this enemy
J orderto attack or resist him ina mass
). Humbolh
e