Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-01-15
"srEED rms rLow. >
Frc-n the An-rsc,s agri-sliari-s-
About Mack and Leaf Mould.

brief sketch Of The nature and uses Of these
substances. To give this. il vii D.
Necessary to state some gCaeral facts con-
corning vegetable life. The p-in cipal part
Of All plants. OF rather Of al plants When
dry. ~ otrboa T; tins element We are most
familiar With in the form Of charcoal. ara II
viii be seen from the amount left after a
piece Of wood Is charrrd. how large a pro I
portion this makes mp. Water Is also an
important and abundant constituent. even
in the driest wood. and Il nav Dc stated in 4
general terms. that an plants consist T-sinly I
Of Charcoal AMI water. We oan readily
understand that the plsut obtains its water
from the moisture. IN the sol. but the
source OF the carbon j. rot 50 evident The
carbon CONES from ca-beaic acid. which j. a
compound Of carbon AMI oxygen. and IS an
invisible gas The plant has the wonderful
power a cecomposing c4rbonic acid within
It's tissues-a2propriAtin the carbon %
buiiduPits growth. and setting oxygen FRYE. .
Csrbonie acid is aiways p-csca; in 4 small
proportion IN the s,-'osphcrc. and plant
in pure saad Nh grow. from carbon
yielded BY the carbonic acid % the air. or
that Dissolved in the water With which Il !.
supplied. A plant IN this condition can
not flourish 80 vigorously. a. j; needs
(amOng other thiags.) more carbon thar
be obtained from these sources. When
placed IN good sol. il no; only receives
csrbonic acid from the ar. bat from another
Important source, VIZ. the decomposition
Of vegetable substances. in the soi. When
plant is burned. 4 snail AMOUNT % ashes
Is lefi ard t5c ret Of the bsik pssses of.
mainly a. earbonie acid and wa;cr. The
carbon. OF charcoal. unites With the oxygen
Of the air. and forms o4rbouic acid. which
diAases itself ia the atmosphere. where Il Is
ready 20 contribute % the growth Of other
plants. IL instead q burning the plant. Il j.
allowed 20 decay. the process. though
much sicver. produces precisely the sane
rvsults-ihe carbon faaly disappsars a.
earbonic acid. When vegetables decay.
they do not. as in burning. pass directly into,
carbonic acid and water. but there j. a. IN
tcrnediaie STATE between their perfect con
dItlon and their complete decomposition
TIE structure : broken Up and a powdcrv
mass IS left. 70 which tie general name a.
mould or tl,uus j. give. Acco Ming 60 TIE
circumstances under which the decompos-
Iilon has taken place. mould has diHerrnt
properties. and distinct names have been
applied ~ chemist. 20 20 va-sous condi-
lions bot BY whatever na.ne 90 nav q,
called. Il i vegetable matter In some stsre
81 Us progress toward fnai recitation In
20 earbonie acid and water. Peat. swamp
muck. leaf-noud. OF The mould from u
decay Of various plants ~ the compost bean
are much alike. Peat and muck differ f-ou,
she Others because TIE decomposition goes
on m the presence Of much water. AMI tli.
does not allow the change 60 extend bcton8
= certain point. a. AR l. in a great measure
excluded Hence. deposits q mock vi
remain Tor ages. the vegetable matter Of
which they consist being IN a partly de-
composed state Dot when "a is dug out ani
exposed 20 the ar. ihe decomposition sess
IN again. ard goes on until ID - committed
AT good soils contain a. anprec;,ff.
annount q vegetable matter unIe--o-,~
decomposition. AMI ta.s Iy i.s conpIete
decay. furnishes asuppiy 81 carbonir AID
which Is taken ~ by TIE roots q pi,-,.
W here SOILS are deficient iu tbs .eretst,,
Constituent then muck. leafmouid. and
eouPosted plants. are jasi 10 a co,di.i,,
70 supply b.. and ar sdied with benefit
or same reason. green crops are piowsd
uSder. a. these. BY their decay. supply m.
needed vegetable matter.
Tie question has been ..teI- gym
plants aourisb FL f. ell ,.-.r.,...f ,...,....-
y q rnoui-s Ihrrc arc som, rl,r,.
winch VII srov. and ever prefer such = .o.l.
bui there arr none OF these uhich We e-r.
irate ~ fool A. before stated vt,-.
plant - thoroughly burned. ttrr. 4. %.
incou bus'itle portion la.les) Ia behind
this shows thc amount Of nine-sf .,f,.-
taken up hy the roots Witho1f b.i-- an.
o Say 20 what use these are i- fhe El. -
To- piaai. eHFeriencc teaeLe. thar ,f.v ,-..
,'',iiiai % BE- perieri dstcI1rue-t. a-f
that moss pants. viii rot make A., t..f.f..
e''..D " p.aoed 'n soil 20 pure ve-e,,tr.
mould. While th.s brief account $500.
eivc az the coaiit.ous % plant s-.-,t 81.
stafcncut 9TH regard 90 ti. 80. q -.
table matter in The soil vin en,ti. -.
~no az WY We 30 constantly re.om-.,s
'nack' etc. o. Gee the reason for n. 81,
a.reaay rich 81 vegetable mould. g. /. 90
thc case a. the West. uin nos b. -
by a. addiiion. nor b. tic absence a. thi.
nece ssarily. che soie cause Of srn-o4.e.;,.-