Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
AN ADDRESS.
Delisered By Hon. John T. Hogf, 10 fhe CeAfre
County fgricahurai Society, 0cf. 1885,

Dclieersd bg Hoa John T. Hoyf, 70 tie Ceafre
County .fgricnifHraf Society, Ocf. 1850
coScLusIoS.
We viii mi the next place, consider some of
the inorganic elements, which enter into the
substance of plants, and arc found in the ash.
And We will first notice lime, which is very
abundant in nature there being few portions of
the earth which will not furnish a sufficient
supply for agricuitnraipurposcs The farmer.
before applying lime 20 his land, should have
it reduced to atoms fine possible, which
csn be done in no more expeditions, or cheap
er way, than by cxpelling the earbonic acid
gas by burning. After which, by the applica-
ton OF water or by exposure TO the air, il falls
into fine powder. IN burning, it loses about
4iper cent OF its weight. 1t then has great
affinity for acids, such suiphuric, oxalic, &c.
which are so much in excess in many regions
and fields as 10 render them unproductive, pro
fucing sorrcfl and what is commonly called
wild and sour grasses. The suiphuric acid, or
oil of vitrioI, is formed in nature, and is com
;,s,se,i Of atoms of oxygen and sulphur, whilc
uniting with lime, forms gypsum OF plaster of
Paris and the oxaiic acid, composed Of oxygen
and carbon forming oxa!ate of lime, these new
compounds formed by the lime and acids, are
not unfavorablc to vegetation.
Where these acids, as well as humic and py-
roigne6us acids, are too abundant in the soil,
they prevent the decomposition OF the dead
vegetable natter and of course are not m a fit
state to be food for the plants. Hence the
great utility Of applying fresh burnt lime, to
take up portion of those acids, and the con
80 Il .1 ali
ter, making II more fertile, not so much from
the ars5tint of lime entering into the compost
tion of the vegetable, as from its power IN
ncutr.iliziug the soil. We have seen by the
above table that the ash of the grains, have
bat a small per centagc Of lime as in Indian
corn 1-l0 cfone percent, wheat 29-l0p per cent.
rye the same, and 1910 in oats. while we OBJ
serve and $40 in wheat straw and in hay
nearly 2S per cent. Hence we may conclude
| that lime is more favorable to the growth of
the staiS and leaves plants than TO the growth
of their seeds. Lime by its acrid quality.
when fresh burned would have the effect To
destroy the larvc of insects, and thus by their
decomposition, acrease the amount of ammo
MIA and phosphorus in the soil. IL would ap-
pear that the application of lime 20 grass lands
would be most profitable when permitted 70
lie sufficient time, TO deeompose or promote
the decomposition of the dead vegetable mat
| ter and otherwise neutralze the soil; and
| this method would he still better, five plough
down the crop Of grass (as the lime facilitates
| its growth making greater amount Of mannre)
and then SOW with wheat other grain In
| the use of lime in farming, ii is now beloved
best 10 nsc smaller quantities TO the acre than
formerly and repeat every few years; say 80
or 40 bushels to the acre, spread and left neat
| the surface, for it has constant tendency 90
| sink lower in the soil
We viii next notice potash, which Of all sub
stances found in the ash OF plants, is the most
uniformly and cqualy distributed. BY the
above table We see that Indian corn contains
23 per cent, The ash of wheat 29i per cent.
rye 81, and oats ~ per cent, OF potash and
soda and potatoes 5ll per cent, turnips A..
| and hay Is. Potash and soda nearly allied
to each other, properties and fo'Tcrs bofh be
| ing alkalics Potash must be in considerable
quantity in the earth The farmer will add it
to the soil, when he applies wood sshes, min
| ertl coal ashes, and alldecsycd vegetable sub
stances. Salt pctre is the nitrate of potash,
but too expensive to be largely used Common
salt is a mnriate of soda, by applying which TO
our fields we have soda; and we have more,
for the muria,ic acid is composed of chlorine
| and hydrogen, SO by the decomposition Of tho
acid, we have chlorine, which is in the ash OF
most plants, though not largely
There is fair proportion 81 hlaghesfs in
the ash of corn, wheat, &C., but it was former
| " thought unfavorable 10 vegetation The
farmer need not seek to apply it to his Held,
| for il is abundant in the soil lin many ciays,
| and is from 80 to 10 per cent. OF sosns lime
stones, and so CT more per cent, IN tnas wnich
| is called hydraulic lime
| Phcsphoric acid is very important element
| in the grains and grasses, and does sot exist
! in a free state in nature, but is found united
! TO potash, soda, lime, &c, forming phospha;es
and in these states are taken up as food for
plants, and is absolutely necessary for their
healthy growth and perfection.
The farmer can increase this element, on
mis- fields by adding decayed vegetable matter,
and decomposed dead animal and insect mat
ter, in which it is most abundant. Some COM
posts are made containing great per cent OF
phosphoric acid, and fixed ammonia, which,
RTr1g,1sc~ -oa EorrH poge,