Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-17
.Tlaa Escac1ics. t.se Of Leaves.

There are two facts IN the function Of The leaf
wi Ii are worth consideration, on account Of
tc:r practical bearings. The food Of plants is
70: tn. most part, taken in solution through the
roots. Various nineral,-s!lcy, lime, alumina,
magncs;a, p,t:l:ll-arc passed into the tree in
dissolved state. Tie sap passes to the Leaf the
superiuou3 water is given off, bat not the sub
stances which gre held in solution. These, in
part, arc distributed through the plant, and, in
part remain deposit III the cells Of the leaf
Gradually. the leaf chokcs up, its functions are
impcded, and finally entirely stopped. When
the leaf drops it contains large per cent. of
mineral matter.
An autumnal or Old leaf Yields, upon analysis,
Il very much larger proportion OF earthly matter
than a vcrnal leaf, Which being vet yoang, has
not received within its cells any considerable de-
post. 1t will be found also that the leaves con-
tain very much larger per cent. Of mineral
matter than the wood Of the trunk. The dried
leaves Of the elm contains eleven p9r cent of
ashes, (ear;hv matter.) while the wood contains
less than two per cent; the leaves Of the willow
eighteen times as much as the wood; the leaves
Of beech an excess over the wood small fraction
less; the leaves Of European oak, nineteen times
as much as the wood and those OF the pitch
pine. twelve times as much as the wood.
1t is very plain, from these facts, that, in for
ests, the mineral ingredients Of the soil perform
sort ofcircrlation; entering the root, they are
deposited in the leaf, then, with its fall to the
earth, and by its decay, they arc restored to the
SOIL again to travel the circuit. Forest soils,
therefore, instead Of being impoverished by the
growth ttrecs, receive back annually the great
est proportion Of those clements necessary to the
tree, and besides, much organized matter rcccir-
ed into the plant from the atmosphere; soils,
therefore, are gaining instead of losing. If Fthe
owners Of parks or groves, for the sake OF neat
ness, Or to obtain leaves for other purposes, gath
er tie a,ltumnal harvest OF leaves they will in
time take away great quantities of mineral mat
ter, by which the soil ultimately will be impov-
crshed, unless it is restored by manures.
Leaf manure HIS always been held in high es-
timation by gardenss. Bu: many regard it as
q purely vegetable substance; whereas it is the
best mineral manure that can be applied to the
soil. What are called vegetable loans, (not peat
soils, made up principally Of decomposed roots)
contain large quantities Of earthly matter, helng
interchangeable rather than vegetable soils.
Every gardener should know that the best ma
nurc for any part is the iecomposed leaves Of
its own species. This fac: vii: suggest the pro
per course with reference to the leaves, tops
vines. hauIm. and c;Acr vegetables Of the ga
! den.
| The other fact connected with the leaf is its
function OF cxhalation The great proportion OF
crude sap which ascends the trunk, upon reach
ing the leaf is given forth again TO the atmos-
phere by means Of siugularly beautiful ccono
my. The quantity Of moisture produced by
plant is hardly dreamed Of by those who have
/ not specially informed themselves. The expert
lnents Of Hale has often been quoted. \ SUM-
flower, three and half feet high, presenting sur
face q 5,Gl6 square inches exposed to the sun,
Was made to pcrSpire Al the rate OF twenty to
thirty OUNCES avordupo:s every twelve hous, or
seven ounces more than man. y vine, with
twelve square ee;, cyllal,s at the rate of FIVE or
six o;IEceS q day. A seeding apple tree, with
twelve square feet Of t1liage, lost nine ounces
day.
These are experiments upU@ rcTT small plants.
The vast amount Of surface presented by large
trec must give ottimmcnse quantities ofmosturc.
The prac.:cal bearings Of this'l$ct Of vegetable
exhaIatica afe not Few. Wet foNst lands, BY
being cleared Of timber, become dry, and streams
fed from such sources become almost extinct as
civilization approaches on wild woods The ex-
cess;ve dampness of crowded gardens is not SIN
cular. and still less IS ei strange that dwellings
covered with vines, whose windows are choked
with shrubs, and whose roof is overhung with
branchee of trees. should be intolerably damp,
and when the good housewife is scrubbing and
securing. and nevertheless marvelling that her
house is so infested with mould, she hardly sus-
poets that her trouble would be more easily re-
moved by the axe or saw than by all Eer cl, tbs
and brushes
4 house should never be surrounded closely
with shrubs \ free circulation of air should be
maintained nil about it, and shade trees so dis
posed as to lcare large openings forthe light and
sun 10 enter. The unusual rains that some sea
sons produce great dampness in our residences,
cannot hut be noticed by all, both on 'ecount Of
the effect on the health Of TIE occupants and up
on the beauty and good condition Of their house
hold substance Such facts should always DO
kept in mind, when locating houses, and when
planting trees and shrubs abou: them.-Rer
Henry Ward Bcecher..
Destructive Hurricane at Vera Cruz-Tne
BRIG Hercules, at New Orleans, from Vera Cruz,