New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-31

Ii.
himself that rain water filtered through held or CIR
den soil does not dissolve out trace OF poash selc
acid. ammonia, phosrhoric acid Inc SOL doe no.
give up 70 the water ono P"i'''e "a '"e 'oc'' P'"
which il contains.
Tbs statement is careless, and does not express
Lebips own views OF the question, as is proven by
the following from passages on the same subject,
selected from among dozen Of similar tenor:
I've know of no other way in which the earthly
pbospbates are dispersed through the roll than by
means of carbonc acid water. II it il true thai one Of
Il chief effects of humus, or the decayng remains OF
plants in soils or IN manure, consists III IA FORMING
source caiboDc acid with which the air and wserln
tie ground is enriched; if it is also true that THE ear
bonc acid renders the earthly phosphates soluble
and thus contributes 10 their distribution IN the coil
then there can be no doubt that the salts OF ammonia,
which pcssess the solvent property can IN thls
respect replace the organic matters and thus exert an
equally favorable influence on the growth oil piani''
"The akalies and alkaline earths which combine
with the acid acquire thereby greater degree of soll-
by and are more readily diiiused through the soil
Then there follows solution of these
earthly phosphates, ard their consequent diffusion
through the soh."
CHOW the salts of which We have been speaking
possess the property of conveying these elements
food from the SPOT which they exist in snperabund
ance TO others in which there is deficiency
What our author very clearly means, but do
moi SO clearly express is, that in an ordinary sol
the food of plants cannot in solution in water
wander through the soil in search Of a root "a
absorb it; for the that particle of soil not
already supplied to its utmost capacity of absOrp-
ton. with the soluble minerals, abstracts from
water whatever it may contain which can supply
IFS demand for tenant-when this particle is sat-
| ,,;u fp1,
another able to receive it, and there il will give up
its mineral constituent. The following extract
| (from page 800 with others to which we need DO,
| refer, sustains our opinion:
"Carbonic acid water will everywhere dissolve
phosI Late Of lime when il comes III contact with IT
and the consequence of this solution only be s
| distribution through the soil But snch a solution
could not pass from the spot III which was formed
without being deprived of all the dissolved salt by
such portions OF the sol! not already saturated
| with it,
In few other instances We observe q lOoseness
of style that may for moment bewllder the reader,
but, taken as a whole, these letters state their
authors views 80 clearly, and, in the main illus
tra.e their truth so forcibly that they carry the
fullest conviction, and place his economic teachings
on a sound and Trustworthy basis.
Some of the opponents of Liebig's theory OF the
| paramount Importance of the mineral elements OF
manure have taken a very decided stand in favor
of the universal efficiency of ammonia fertilizer.
| They not only give TO il an undue Importance, but
they carry their views far to make 1t the only
measure of the value of manure. They furthermore
| attempt to widen the breach between Liebig and
Themselves, by accusing him of not attrbuting any
value TO it. He dcyotcs a considerable portion Of
this work to stating the facts with regard TO the
| action of ammonia in the nutrition of plants, and
as n constituent of manure.
| We believe that certain amount of growth may
be secured by the use Of mineral manurcs alone,
| ammonia being obtaned--directy or indirectly
from the atmospheric but, if the amount of mineral
! manure (or the natural supply in the soi) be in
creased beyond the requirements OF this growth,
then an artificial application of ammonia will secure
an increased growth In addition 10 this direct
action. ammonia has the effect of rendering ayaa-
bic to plants inert mineral matters in the soil.
| Sulphate Of ammonia produces alkaline Sill
Gates reaction similar 10 that on earthly phosphaes.
II this salt in very dilute solution is brought in con-
| tact with soil saturated with sllcate OF potash, and
which does not give mp trace OF it, potash TO water
alone instantly dssoyes certain quantity OF tins
alka which may be easily detected by the ordinary
| Reagents
| "The experiments OF Kuhlmann, Schattenmann, and
Iawes, agree in showing that the salts OF ammonia
| exert a most favorable influence the evolution of
straw and leaves and if this influence extends in like
manner the underground organs, the roots, then
ought TO follow that the action OF ammonia promotes
the development of those destined for the at
| sorption Of food and that these salts applied al the
proper time increase the number OF the leaves and
| roofs
Therefore the application of ammonia during The
early stages of their growth, gives TO plants the
ability Ia subsequently collect and assimate more
food Than would have been the without lis aid.
In one word-ammonia is most useful manure
| when II accompanied by the mineral elements which
render 1t acve, when II finds IN the soil those con-
dltioDs which necessary 10 lie efficacy; II abso
utey OF value 10 the farmer if he neglect TO Tt
store or supply these elements.
"Were farmer by the advice Of the apostles Of
this sO-oaled nitrogen theory, mad enough 10 manure
his fields even for ten years only conseeutiyey with
salts of ammonia or with Chill salpeter and were he
confidently relying upon the perfect fitness of these
salts to replace farn-yard manure, poudrette, and
guano TO sell Oft from his field the entire produce he
wouh assuredly be hegcar al the end OF this period
Ii al agrcuturstS in Germany To never 10
return 10 their fields the mineral constituents Of their
manure heaps, because .heir teachers have assured
them that the soil ineXhausthle in these elements,
half the population Of Germany would be starved 80
death before the end of ten year,.
His views on the use OF nitrogen being fully 81,
FORTH our author devotes himself with equal energy
to the exposition of the relations existing between
the mineral elements of plant-food, the growth OF
| the plant. and the fertility of the soil
Ever! plant that grows abstracts from the soil