Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-14
From the American Farmer.
Differences I'm the Ash Of Cultivated Lands.


Differences In the Ash of Cultivated Lands.
Having given an abstract from Professor Norton's
chapter upon the organic and inorganic constituents
of plants we will follow up his views to the differ
ence found by analysis, to exist in the ash of
eral kinds of cultivated plants. He remarks:
We have noticed each of the substances that
were named as occurring in the inorganic part of
plants, and have given such of their more remarka-
bic properties and more common forms of appliance
seemed necessary to their recognition by the prac
teal man.
alt has been already stated, that with one or two
occasional exceptions they all found in the ash
of cultivated plants. Sometimes and sometimes
another is absent but generally find small guam
titles of nearly all. 1t does not follow from this
however, that every plant contains the quanti-
ty of ash The trunk of tree, for instance if de-
prved of its bark does not yield more than from one
to two pounds Of ash IN hundred of wood, while
the stalk of grass straw of grain frequently
tans from to IA lbs, in 100 There some plants
which scarcely contain any ash whatever, and 9TH
ers in which it forms large proportion. This diff
ference exists not only between various plants but
between the parts of the same plant
eff we examine the straw of wheat, we find usu-
ally or per cent of ash the leaf contains or
per cent, and the grain not more than from l to
per cent So in turneps or beets, the dried roots
have no than from l to per cent of ASH while
the dried leaves often leave from 20 to 80. These
facts are to be remembered.
When we pursue our researches step further,
and separate the substances which make up the ash
of different plants, we find that here also is great
variation. The ash of potatoes is than half
potash, while the ash in the grain of wheat contains
much less potash, but is about half phosphorc acid
The ash of clover and lueerne often contains twice
much lime that of herds-grass or timothy hay.
We may thus divide plants into classes according
to the composition of their ash In the ash from the
seed of wheat and all the cultivated grains phospho-
ric acid is the leading Ingredient in that from tur
neps, beets and other roots it is much less while the
alkales and soda increase the tubers of the pota
to they constitute than half in the grapes,
lime and silica are more abundant. and in some, as
the clover, the lime becomes leading substance in
the stems of most trees lime abounds yet more. and
in many exceeds in quantity any thing else
These facts have marked bearing on many practi-
cal points which We have yet to consider.
1t was stated that the quality of ash varied in
different parts of the plant, for example In
the straw and the grain of wheat This variation in
quantity is not marked than in the composition
of these two ashes In the ash of straw We find that
there is great proportion of silica, and very little
phosphoric acid while in that of the grain more than
half is phosphoric acid, and there is scarcely any
silica When we come to consider the purposes for
which these parts are Intended. the cause of such
variations will be plainly perceived. We even find
in many plants distinction between the composition
of the ash at the bottom of the stalk and at the top
In all the ash from the husk which the
seed, in oats, barley buckwheat differs exceed
ingly in its constitution from that of the seed itself
( We have now called attention to several yalua-
BILE facts respecting the inorganic part or ash Of
plants