The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-05-19
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Enmon's analysis, in 100 parts oil
the ashes of the sap-wood OF the ap-
pie tree there are three elements
that greatly rrcponderate, as fol-
lows departs potash, II parts phos-
phate OF lime, and IS parts lime.
In the bark Of this tree there are j
parts potash and 81 parts lime.
One hundred parts of the ashes OF
the sap-wood Of the pear tree show
% parts of potash, p parts of phos-
phate of lime, and II parts of lime
the bark giving 6parts of potash, 9
parts Of phosphate, and 80 parts Of
lime.
The analysis of the common wild
grapevine shows 20 parts of potash,
Is parts phosphate of lime, and II
parts lime to every 100 parts; the
bark giving part potash, 8 parts
phosphate of lime, and 80 parts OF
lime.
Now, no intelligent cultivator can
examine these results (Which we
have thus given in the rough to sim
pity the matter) without being con-
scious, at a glance, that this large
necessity existing in these fruit trees
for potash, phosphate of lime, is not
at all provided for by the common
system OF manuring orchards.
Hence, in certain soils, where a
part or all of these elements natural
" exist, we see both the finest fruit
and extraordinary productiveness in
the orchards. In other soils, well
suited perhaps for many other crops,
orchards languish and are found UNI
profitable.
More than this, DR.. Emmons has
pointed out what is perhaps known
to few Of our readers, that these in
organic substances form, as it were,
the skeleton or bones of all vegeta-
bles as they do more tangibly in an
finals. The bones of animals are
limo, in the form of phosphate and
carbonate, and the Trailer net DIRK
skeleton Of trunk, leaves, and iibres
in plants is formed of precisely the
same substance.
The bark, the veins and nerves Of
the leaves, the skin Of fruit, are all
formed upon framework OF organ
lied salt oflime, which, in the growth
of the plant, is taken up from the
soil, and circulates freely to the out
or extrcmities of the tree or plant in
all irections.
As these elements, which we have
named as forming so large part of
the ashes or plants, are found in an
imal manures, the latter are quite
sufficient in soils where they are
not naturally deficient. But, on the
other hand, where the soil is want
ing in lime, potash, phosphate Of
lime, common manures will not and
do not answer the purpose.-EXpe-
rience has abundantly proved the lat
ter position and science has at
length pointed out the cause of the
failure.
The remedy is simple enough,
Lime, potash, and bones (Which lat
ter abound in the phosphate) are
cheap materials, easily obtained in
any part of the country. If they are
not at hand, common wood ashes,
which contain all of them, is an ca
sy substitute, and one which may be
used in much larger quantities than
commonly applied, with the most de-
cided benefit to all fruit trees.
The more scientific cultivator of
fruit will not fail, however, to OBJ
serve that there is very marked diff
ference in the proportion ofthcse in
organic matters in the ashes of the
trees under our notice. Thus, pot
ash and phosphate oflime entermuch
more largely into the composition of
the pear than they do in that of the
apple tree +; while lime is much more
abundant in the apple than in the
pear, the ashes Of the bark of the APP
pie being more than half lime.-Pot-
ash and lime are also found to be the
predominant elements Of the inor-
ganic structure of the grapevine.
Hence potash and bone will be the
principal substances to nourish the
structure Of the pear tree; lime the
principal substance for the apple f.;
and potash for the grapevine,
though each of the others are also
highly essential.
Since these salts of lime pene tratc
TO the remotost eXtremities of the
tree-since, indeed, they are the
foundation upon which a heavy
structure of all the other parts must
rest, 1t appears to us rational de-
ductlon that upon their presence, in
sufficient quantity, must depend
largely the general healthy condition
OF the leaves and fruit.
Hence, it is not unlikely that GER
tam diseases of fruit known nc thn