Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
An ADDRESS,
Dclirered By Hon. JOHN r. Hoyt, TO The CenfTe
County .9gricRlfRral Society, Oct. 1888.

-4N -AbDfNES>s
Dclirerei by Hon. JOHN r. Hoyt, to the Centre
so County. 9gricHlfnrai Society, Oct. 1883.
CONCLUSION.
We will in the next place, consider some of
the inorganic elements, which enter into tho
substance of plants, and are 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 sufficient
supply for agricultural purposes. The farmer,
before applying lime to his land, should have
ii reduced to atoms--ls fine possible, which
can be done in no more expeditions, or cheap
or way. than 10y cxpelling the carbonic cid
gas by burning. After which, by the applica-
tion of water or by exposure 10 the air, it falls
into a fine powder. In burning, ii loses about
4fper cent OF its weight. Ii then has great
affinity for acids, such as sulphuric, oxalic, &c,
which are SO much in excess in many regions
and fields as to render them unproductivc, pro-
ducing sorrcll and what is commonly called
wild and sour grasses. The sulphuric acid, or
oil of vitrol is formed in nature, and is COM
posed of atoms of oxygen and sulphur, while
uniting with lime, forms gypsum or plaster OF
Paris and the oNalie acid, composed OF oxygen
and carbon forming oxalatc of lime, these new
compounds formed 10y the lime and acids, are
not unfavorablc to Vegetation.
Where these acids rs well as humic and py-
roligneouS acids, are too abundant in the soil,
they prevent the decomposition of the dead
| vegetable matter, and of course are not IN mt
| 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
sequcnt decomposition of dead vegetable mat
| ter, making it more fertile, not 50 much from
the amount of lime entering into the compost
ncutralzing the Soil. We iravc seen by the
above table that the ash of the grains, have
| but small per ccntage of lime as i'll Indian
| corn Ito ofone percent, wheat 29l0 per cent
rye the same, and 1910 in oats. while we OBJ
serve and $40 in wheat straw and IN hay
nearly 23 per cent. Hence We may conclude
| that lime is more favorable TO the growth of
the stalk and leaves of plants than TO the growth
of their seeds. Lime by its acrid quality.
when fresh burned, would have the effect TO
destroy the larve of insects, and thus by their
decomposition, increase the amount of ammo
MIA and phosphorus in the soil. 1t would ap-
pcar that the application of lime to grass lands
would be most profitable when permitted to
lie sufficient time, TO decompose or promote
the decomposition OF the dead vegetable mat
ter, and otherwise ncutralize the SOIL; and
this method would be still better, FIVE plough
/ down the crop of grass Gas the lime facilitates
| its growth making greater amount of manure)
and then sow with wheat or other grain. In
the of lime in farming, it is now believed
best to use smaller quantities 10 the acre than
formerly and repeat every few years; say so
40 bushels to the acre, spread and left near
the surface, for it hasa constant tendency TO
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 equally distributed. By the
above table see that Indian corn contains
% per cent, the ash OF wheat 29a per cent,
| rye 81, and oats y per cent, OF potlsh and
soda, and potatoes 5I4s per cent, turnips AZ,
and hay Is. Potash and soda are nearly allied
TO each other, properties and powers both be-
ing dkalcs. Potash must be in considerable
quantity in the earth. The farmer viii add it
to the soil, when he applies wood ashes, min
eral coal ashes, and all deeayel vegetable sub
stances. Salt -petre is the nitrate Of potash.
but too expensive to be largely used Common
salt is murae Of soda, by applying which TO
| our fields We have soda and we have more,
for the muriatic acid is composed of chlorine
and hydrogen, so by the decomposition OF the
acid, we have chlorine, which is in the ash of
most plants though not largely.
There is 4 fair proportion of magnesia in
the ash of corn, wheat, &c, but IT was former
| lv thought unfavorablc TO vegetation. The
| farmer need not seek to apply it 10 his field,
for il is abundan; in the soil in many clays,
and is from so to 10 per cent of some lime
stones, and so or more per cent, in that which
is called hydraulic lime.
PhospIloric acid is very important element
in the grains and grasses, and does not exist
in free state in nature, but is found united
TO potash, soda, lime, &c, forming phosphates
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
his fields by adding decayed vegetable matter,
and decomposed dead animal and insect mat
ter in which ii is most abundant. Some COM
posts are made containing great per cent. OF
phosphoric acid, and fixed ammonia, which,
a. -, Lo,,,fL ,,oc.