The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-09-09
Useful Information.
srLEx


Slick, or sand, is the largest compo-
nent Of soils, and with alumina and lime.
iB the base Of all soils Soils are por-
Gus in proportion. to the amount Of slick
they contain. If soil contains over
eighty per cent. of sand, it is too dry and
porous for productive land. It will bear
the securing rush only, wAieb is formed
almost wholly Of slick Combin ed with
alumina and alkalies, it becomes solu-
bic OF liquid, aud then enters largely in
to vegetation, and forms the hard coat
ing Of the stem and leaves Of grain aud
grass.
ALUMINA.
Alumina, or clay, makes a soil tough,
tenacious, and impervious to water
Strictly speaking, clay is silicato Of
alumina, though in common parlanoe we
use them as syuonimous. it rarely en-
ters into the composition of vegetables,
it being rather a base for the soil than
a constituent for vegetation.
LIME.
Lime, in the form of phosphates and
carbonates enters largely into the com
position Of plants, and is, in fact, an es-
sential element of vegetable matter
BY acting on the alkalies, it sets the So
luble silica free, making it available for
plants. 1t also renders the soil warmer
and more porous, combines with the re-
sinOus and the oily matter in the soil,
and forms soap-thus destroying the an
tiseptic matter in the oil, aud aiding de-
composition.
MAGNEsIA.
Magnesia is abundant in almost all
the rocks. The phosphate of magnesia
is the principal ingredient of the seeds
Of grain aud grasses. 1t forms the germ.
while lime and silex form the stalks and
SENS Of trees and grain. 1t is abun-
dant in the soil
PHOSPHORUS.
Phosphorus, combined with the aka
lies and iron, exists in all organized
bOdies-animal and vegetable. With
magnesia, it forms the seed of grains
and grasses-with lime, it forms the
trunks Of trees. 1t exists in small guam
tities-is soon exhausted by cultivation,
and must be supplied, or crops will fail.
AMMONIA.
Ammonia is a powerful element of
fertility, but is soon exhausted. 1t can,
however, be restored by the application
Of stable manure. The strong. pungent
smell Of the hOrse-stable, is volatile ann
mOnia, or hartshOrn, escaping from the
manure. Clay, coal, and plaster readily
absorb and dctain it.
ALKALIEs.
Potash, soda and ammonia, called al
haiics, and lime and magnesia, called al
h0liae earthS, enter largely into compo-
sitiOn Of vegetation, and their absence
would render a soil sterile.
MANURE.
In the general term manure, is includ-
ed everything that will aid fertility, or
correct deficiencies in the soil. If soils
are too sandy and light, lime and ashes
to dissolve the sand, and render it solu-
bic, is as much manure as is muck, dung,
or other fertilizers.
LIME.
Lime should be applied to peaty soils
to those which contain a large amount
of vegetable mattcr--to those which are
sour-to heavy clay lands, and light
sandy soils. On clay and sandy land,
the effect is entirely different, making
clay land more friable, and sandy land
more adhesive.
AS lime has a tendency to sink into
the earth, it should be applied to the
surface; and light dressings, frequently
applied, are better than heavy dressings.
MARL.
As mari is lime combined with earthly
matter, aud this, generally, of a veg
etable character it is often better as "a
dressing for land than lime, as it con
tains not only the corrective, but fertil-
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