Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-12-25
n0rtfnfturHt.
fFy6m FIR Rastoa Fu1frator /

Tr6m FIR Hdsf6i G,Ifit1t6r.
On the Food 0r p1nnfa.-Tha
faod If plants Il n srtieei which has excited
md Ia still developing the utmost patience
and skill Of The psychologists Of fhe present
time, and what subject Is 90 worthy the
attention of the scientific Us the investi9a.
lion and realization 6fihe greatest possible
heneft from the ait and soil. and The mas
imnm quantity and quality If vegetable al=
inent To be- obtained from them7 NoE The
air pia,ts lao eaiied) are produced. grow,
aud reproduce flowers and seeds, by the
spatenaner which they derive from The mir
only. The accounts furnished ~ different
travellers, and also from the pars0ealknow
ledge ofevery one who Is acquainted with
horticultural houses where The plants are
kept-stispended In every direction, bbt
their roots feed no where-their flowers
dazzling with their beauty and revlyibR the
nerves with thsir smel'-yet, these plants
are fed entirely from the atmosphere, with
ont my addition Of water even in the dfiest
seasons. In The island Of Tetuatet In The
East Indies, they have an sir plant tFpidcn.
drum) which Is held in such great repute.
that none but ptiaresseaar are allowedfo wear
tie precious blossoms. The living orna
meni when worn on the person continues
to bud and send forth flowers, which live by
the sir alone. There are other plants
which live on water only, which they alb.
sorb by their roots, Us the Hyaciatb, &C.
and some plants which are cut off and sep.
erated, ~ the Nasfur4iufn, will still coptin.
tie TO grow, flower, ard perfect seed When
placed In a bottle filed with water. BG
the plants which are given for the food o
man require a stronger regimen than the
delicate flowers, and hence the greater In
terest felt by the farmer IN The scientific
delineation Of vegetable s]ustenance aslaic
down Ivy DIR Liebig and others.
And first, what principle do plants derive
from The air on which they live, regulated
and reproduced? BY the experiment 0
Liebia. We are taught tbstitis 10 the humh'
OF the soil assisting IN, or forming vegetable
mould, that the structure II plans is 10 b.
sscribe. But IN the case ofthe air plants
&C., which do not come In contact with th,
soill Nature has provided a Sufficient ar'
adequate food in the humns gas eight
which IL difased through The air, as tn
solrcs Of vitality and combustion. and
the only real organic food Of plants. Il
esrhy planfa the bprnnq gas (lie7t) Is IN.
hsled by the under part Of the leaf enter
the circulation Of The sap, escites 'he oIy
gen oftbe car5onic acid in the soil, an
sets free the oxygen to be e1haled by tn
pores of the upper surface of the leaves int
the atmosphere. The humus ofthe caFboI
in the soil it appropriates BY its roots TO tn
production Of veuefabIe substances, wood.
fibre, mucilage. sugar. &C.
Oxygen gas is the product Of vegetable
conversion, in the decomposition Of carboI
by the medium Of bumus gas, (ight.) An
one who will candidIy csmpare the Prope
ties ofthe light in the atmosphere aud it
effects, will perceive the harmony ofnat"re
which ordains that vegetables shall be tn
medium Of providing both the air Of life 70
man and also food for his animal wants
R. DOLBEN.
Cambridge, July %, 1s47.
A Pooh PoEr's WIsH.-"Oh that
sovereign. like a piece of scandal, woul
grow bicper every time II circulated"