Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-12

governed by pecuniary considerations
in his efforts to introduce the works of
an eastern publishing use.--PhDros
Effect Of Salphalc Of Lime upon Vegetable Sub
stances.
The following is condensed from very
interesting paper read by Chevalier
ClausSen. inventor OF the fax cotton. be
fore the last meeting Of the British As
ISOLATION or the advancement Of Science;
About six weeks since, | was engaged
in making some experiments on the eff
feet of sulphate Of lime upon vegetable
substances. A portion of The substances
then used by me was thrown carelessly
aside. and upon returning to my expert
ments about fortnight afterwards. was
surprised to find that decomposition had
not taken place IN those portions of the
vegetables which had been subjected 10
the action Of the sui phate, white those
which had not been so treated were com
pletely decayed Am ng the articles cx-
Perlmented upon were Number OF pota-
toes. each of which was affected By The
,
sound to the present day; the others have
some time since completely rotted away.
Subsequently procurad some more pota
! toes and also some beet-r0ots. the formel
being. as far asl could judge. all diseased
divided the potatoes into three portions
solution of sulphuric acid, and from
/ thence placed them in solution o.
weak lime water. Ia the second lot tn,
process was reversed. that is 10 say, The
potatoes were first placed in the liml
water. aud then in the acid. The thir(
lot was left untouched. Ten days after
( wards examined the potatoes. and found
as expected, that those which had no
been treated with the sui phate were rap
idly decaying; those which had been frs
placed in the solution Of lime and ;iiei
in the acid were more nearly decoinpos
ed; while those which had been trea,e'
in The mode first described remained a.
sound as when first taken in hand. Up
on being cut open, the diseased part o
the potatoes was not found to hav'
spread internally and the flavor Of III
root was in no degree affected b. the sp
pilcation of the process. nor DO | thin
that its terminating power was I'M
by the effect of the sulphate. The elfec
upon the beet root was similar 10 tha
produced upon the potatoes, and whic
would seem TO be somewhat aualageou
10 tina; Of galvanizing. viz. protectin
e.
pheric agencies. may add. that muri
attic and other acids have been employe
by me on other occasions with equal sue
cess. the only agents required appearin
, 10 be those which will most readily pro
: duce q salt in contact with the substamc
) es required 10 be preserved. AS at pres
. ent il does not appear that any mean
can BIZ successfully adopted 10 proven
! the potatoe from becoming diseased Will
in the ground and arriving al maturity.
would certainly be of immense advau
| tage if anything could be discovered b
, the use o. which the roots when taken u
: could be prevented from that absoluI
decay and irreparable loss to which pc
e tatoes affected by the disease are liabl,
= The results which have described seer
: TO me TO point 10 the possibility Of a
\ resting this loss. How far the plan su!
: gested may be practicable or applicab
g upon large scale. nv present very pre-
: sing and numerous engagements ha,
hitherto prevented me from ascerlaininl
!. | do not think thot any insuperable diff
Q Guilty exists with respect TO the applict
:, lion If the process. The acid EN- ploy,
!. by me was very weak, about part
e 200 OF water; the lime water was abo,
J. the consistency of milk. The materia
!, are no. therefore expensive; and whs
4 the value of the crop to be saved is take
Q into conside' aaon, it would be rnatt
: wei worthy of eng tested.
. 6cfsrfi<c z..rfca~