Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-03-24

teaves, stem, Juices. gum, sugar, starch, acid
gluten, and slbumen, Ohe last two being
The nutri'ive principle in wheat, corn, &c.
yet they are of no more use than certain
other substances forming par, Of a class
calIed inorganic bodies, which are Of equal
necessity 10 the animal, and are always ever
present in productive soils, and in form,
state, or condition, capable of being taken
up by the plant. These essential elements
ere Phosphorus, Sulphur, Chlorine, Silicon,
Calcium, Potassium, Sodium. Magnesium,
Iron and aluminium.
These do not exist in either animal or vege-
table matter, or in soils in their pure stale.
Thus phosphorus is united to oxygen and
becomes phosphoric acid, and then in the soil
Is almost Invariably found united TO iron or
alumins, masking a phosphate Of iron or
alumina, as the case may be. In plants and
animals it is united 10 lime and mngnesla
forming phosphate Of lime and msgnesia.
Sui phur is also united in soils 10 oxygen,
forming sulphuric acid, which united to lime
forms sui pha'e Of lime or gypsum.
Chlorine in an uncombined state does not
naturally exist; when pure il is gas, which,
when inhaled, even though much diluted
with air, speedily produces sufocalion. i,
is Of q yelIowish green color, Of an as,rin-
gent taste and disagreeable smell. itspeedi-
~ removes ell animal and vegetable colors
by lis bleaching powers, and when the COL
ors are once destroyed they cannot again
be restored. II is likewise powerful agent
'n destroying the contagious principle Of
diseases. II exists abundan'ly in sea-wa,er
united to sodium, forming chloride of
sodium or common salt: the bodies formed
by union with chlorine are called chiorides.
Silicon united to oxygen forms silica,
slick, quartz, or common flint, which con-
s.ilules, in union with lime, magnesIa, pot
ash and soda, SO large proportion Of the
earth.
Calcium is the metallic base Of lime,
which, when united 10 oxygen forms lime,
(unslackeJ, or caustc lime,) this on being
united to csrbonic acid becomes carbonate
Of lime or air-slacked lime.
Potassium is metallic base, which, when
united TO oxygen, becomes potash; this in
union with si1icic acid, or flint, becomes sill
cate of potash, and gives TO straw and grasses
their hardness.
Sodium is also metallic base, which,
when united to oxygen, becomes soda,
which in union with carbonic acid is the
common soda Of the shops, and with chic
sine constitutes common salt.
Magnesium is metallic base, which,
when united to oxygen, becomes common
eslcinet| msgnesia, and exists in combination
in many llmesiones with carbonic acid, form
ing carbonate Of magnesia.
Iron is metal too we'll known to need
airy description, i. very rarely is found in
state of purity in soils, but exists as an
oxide Of rust.
Aluminium is metallic base, which, un-
s!ed TO oxygen, forms alumina or pure clay
Alumina is rarely found in animal, and in
very sparse quantities in vegetable bodies.
In different combinations it forms large
port Of soils, and there exercises most i'm
portant functions.
Although the ten last named elements
firm but very small percentage Of living
bodies, yet they are absolutely essential to
their existence; for without phosphate of
lime and msgnesis, which is compound
Of phosphorus, calcium and oxygen, neither
,he bones Of animals nor the seed Of grass
nor Of grain would be formed. Without
sul phur no nu,li,ive food capable Of yielding
blood or brain matter could be produced.
Without silicate Of potash and soda no stem
Of wheat, no blade Of grass nor stalk of
corn could exist. No, the most abundan,
supply of all The four organic elements frs,
mentioned, which exist in the air, could
produce The smales, plant or the veriss,
insect tina. crawls, unless they were in
union with the other bodies last named,
which ave derived from the soil. Thus then
the soil furnishes material class of bodies
which cannot exist in the air, necessary to
abe animal and necessary to the plant, and
with which we must supply the soil, if they
be absent. before vegetable life can be pro-
duced. In my former report gave q table
showing that all OF the mineral constituents
named above were necessary; that the alb
sence or deficiency Of one could not be
be compensated for by an excess of the 9th
ers. Thus-no amount ofIime would COM
pensae for The absence Of magnesia no
abundance Of chlorine be a substitute for
eulphuric acid; no quantity Of sui huric acid
could coun,erbalance deficiency of phos-
phoric acid or phosphates. Let those who
deny this doctrine and say that all these
constituents are not necessary, show a sim
gle grain Of wheat, single blade Of grass,
or any soil capable of producing either,
which does not contain them. But not only
,his, part of The substances existing in the
air, are frs, taken by The soil and then fur
nished TO the plsn,-,he soil being Medium,
q kind Of stomach for the proper digestion
Of The food obtained from The air, so thu. i,
may be used by the plant. This digestive
power, or ability to produce nu,rilive mat
Ter. such as ammonia, from crude substances,
Hydrogen and ni.rogen,) depends partly on
texture, partly on chemical constitution
Ammonis. as have before said. il COM