Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-21
FOR rHssPEcrAro TOR.
~ THE FAR1tgRs OF WEST VIRGINIA,
NOS.

10 THE FARMERS OF WEST VIRGINIA,
NOS.
In the preceding number,you had brief
-ccount Of the elements which enter into
he organic structure of plants. We now
pass to the second general division Of ele-
nsatary substances forming the inorganic
part. Although this part Of the plant is
10. equal in weight to the organic portion,
t Id net less important to full and mature
growth. If any one of the constituents Of
The full grown plant whether OF the organic
OF Inorganic part, be entirely removed from
al contact with the growing plant, It can
never arrive at perfect maturity Sucn -
the uniform composition OF any one kIi'd
of grain, that the same elements, IN very
nearly the same proportions, are found init,
wherever it grows. The wheat OF Russia
differs but little in its Chemical constitu-
ton from the wheat of England or Amer
lea. What is needed then, to promote the
growth ofwheatin one country is also need
ed in every other.
The organic portion of the plant has
been found, as formerly stated, to con-
tain only four simple or elementary sub
stances; but the ash, although less IN bulk \
weight, often contains as many as ten
Most Of these are not simple in the chemi-
cal meaning Of that term; yet we Will call
them the inorganic elements" OF regeta-
bic productions. The following are the
most important Lime, .Magaesia, Potash,
Soda, Silica, Oride of Iron, Orids of Nun
paHese, Chlorine, Sulphaic aRd Phosphorus
acids. Many ofthese are so familiar to the
mind of every one that a detailed descrlp-
lion is unnecessary.
Lims This well known substance Is usu-
ally found in plants combined with some
one of the acids, forming what is called a
Sab of Lime. SO in the soil it exists, as
common limestone or chalk Carbonate of
hme(--as plasterof Paris (SulDhate OF lme)
or less abundanty as bone earth (Phos-
phate oflime.) In all these forms it acts
an important part in promoting vegetation.
.Magnssia is often found in the ash Of
our common grains in greater abundance
than Lime, and is no less important in ma
turing their growth.
Potash aud Soda are very much alike in
many of their properties. Under some cir
Cumstances, the one may he made to take
the place ofthe other. Potash Is the sub
stance that gives the strength" to the
i've Of wood ashes, and, wheh boiled with
oily animal or vegetable matter, forms soft
soap. Ii common salt is added during the
boiling, the soap becomes hard--Soda is
then found to have taken the place Of pot
ash. When plants are cultivated at dis
lance from the sea-shore, they usually con-
tain more potash than Soda but when the
same plants grow near the shore, where
they are watered by the spray, the reverse
rs generally true-the soda is found to pre-
dominate.
Silica. This is among the most abundant
minerals. Sand, flint, and quartz crystals,
that are found abundantly in almost every
region, are among the specimens of nearly
pure Silica. Hay and the Straw of all kinds
of grain, contain this as one of their most
abundant inorganic elements.
Iron is found in the products Of vegeta-
lion combined with oxygen, forming Iron
rust, Peroxide of Iron.) The ashes both
of wheat and Indian corn contain very
perceptible portion ofthls Peroxide of Iron.
Manganese is so rarely found in cultivat-
ed crops to pay considerable extent, that
1t scarcely demands passing notice. tits
ametal usually in combination with oxygen,
often IN sufficient abundance i'll the soil to
give dark brown or red color.
Chlorine. This IS one ofthe constituents
of common salt, from which it may be sep
arated very easily, by mixing the salt with
one third its weight of black oxide Of
Manganese and pouring oil of yitrlol the
mixture. When thus set free from the salt
Il passes off as gas possessing strong
disagreeable odor. Chlorine exists more
abundantly in potatoes turnips, and some
other esculent roots than it does in the
grains, hence common salt used sparingly,
promotes the growth of these Vegetables.
!Su1phuric acid (oil of vitrioD is COM
pound of Sulphur and oxygen, and CON-
bined with lime forms the Plaster of Paris,
so much used as fertilizer. With Mag
nesia il forms EPSON Safts.>
PkoSphoric acid and Lime in chemical
combination form the white part Of bones,
left when bones are burned In an open fire
This acid is not so'abundant as the sulphu
rio. but is not less valuable in agricul-
ture. 1t is this which gives the great val
ue to bone dust as manure. consider
able portion of it exists in that remarkable
fertilizer-Guano.
have endeavored to give general idea
of the most importent constituent ele-
ments of plants-frst of the organic, &
secondly of the inorganic part. These of
course form the proper and necessary
nourishment of growing vegetation.
Yours, most respectfully,
COTONITS