Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-30
VOL. XXXIV.
.sha From the Richmond Farmer.l q
The Theory of Vegetable Growth.

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93.h From the Richmond Farmer.l g -
The Theory of Vegetable Growth.
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BY PROF. BURYEAR, OF RICHMOND CoLLEGE!
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In discussing the theory of ofvegetable
growth, it is necessary that we have clear
conceptions of the sources from which
plants obtain their food, and the forms in
which they take it up and assimilate it.
As preliminary, therefore, to the several
articles which we purpose to write for the
Farmer. we shall exhibit the composition
of the atmosphere. the source directly or
indirectly of all the organic constituents
OF plants, and explain, to, some extent, the
functions of itsiseyeral constituents. -
Nitrogen, oxS gen, and carbonic acid are
the essential constituents of the atmosl
phere, and the proportions in which these
gases exist in 100 volumes of air, may be
stated thus: fa'jssls5,t 80 -. liti nip9
- Oxygen. ~. -. 9Oso o91
Z GaFb0nic acid. ..s.... ......a.io '.04
a2fsb sr1essa ~ ah - i'$a ~ 10000.
A few words in regard to the properties
OF each. of these gases. BY our upaided
senses. they cannot be distinguished from
each other, all being. like the atmosphere
cOlorleSs, tasteless, and inodorous.y Yet by
so simple an instrument as a taper, they
may readily be distinguished from each
on which the slightest spark remains, when
introduced into oxygen gas, bursts at once
into flame and burns with the greatest ra-
piiity; steel tipped with little burning
sulphur, takes II 2e Immediately in oxygen,
emitting the most beautifulF and brilliant
scintillations, aud is converted in a few sec
onds into a brick-red dust, the oxide of
iron. What takes place in this case in
few seconds-the oxidation of the from
would be ELECTED also in the atmosphere;
but as many months, perhaps years, would
be required. .,s..r. sl-.ra.s ..s-r.I, .,est
This renders apparent the necessity of
some negative element in the atmosphere
to check the rapid action, to temper the
fiery energy of oxygen. Nitrogen is that
element. "A lighted taper Immersed into
a vessel of nitrogen gas is Immediately eX-
tinguiShed an animal placed in an atmos-
phere of this gas would soon die; not that
nitrogen is poison, but because of the alb
sence of the vital element oxygen. If nitro
gen were Withdrawn from tue atmosphere,
so rapid and violent would be the action of
the Hndiluted oxygen that the inte2 2rity of
the present order of the material world
could not be maintained single hour.
AS to carbonic acid. This gas, like nitro
gen, will extinguish a lighted taper; but,
being heavier than the atmosphere, it may
be poured on burning candle, which will
be extinguished. We cannot pour nitro
gen, which IS a little lighter than the at
mosphere. The specific gravity of these
gases, compared with air as unity, is as fol-
lows: Oxygen. 1lQ5, nitrogen, O.97, car
bpnic acid, 1.52. .Ater
According TO our ar-tabular statement, the
amount ofcarbonic acid in the atmosphere
might seem too small to, be of any conse-
quence, yetit is the great source OF the car
bon OF plants, which constitutes 90 per
ent.gof their weight when entirely de-
prived of moisture. 1t may, however, be
though the amount OF carbonic acid Is rela-
lively small, yet such is the vast volume of
the atmosphere, the air over an acre OF land
contains % tons of carbonic acid, three
eleYenths GID of which is carbon. This
quantity OF carbonic acid in the atmos-i
phere, kept constant by processes to be
hereafter explained, is abundantly suffi-
cient to meet the demands of the vegetable
world and yet wholly INSULT lent to incom-
mode animal respiratiOn.*
Besides these gases, there is always pres
ent in the atmosphere aqueous vapor and
the volatile products of decomposing bod
les. Prominent in the latter class is am
monia, which escapes from decomposing
bodies containing nitrogen. If we take
the first that falls-melt
and eVaporate it, adding a little InIriatic
acid, q reSiduum will be left in the eVap-
Grating dish. which, if triturated with caus-
tic lime, evolves the peculiar pungent odor
with the ammonia, forming muriate of am
monia, and thus the anlmonia-very vola-
tile when tree-became fIed !; the lime
united with the muFiatic aeia and ammonia,
as gas, was liberated and made its pres
ence manifest by its pungent effect Oh the
nose. AS ammonia, or some product of its
Transformation, is necessary to the forma-
GlOn of the nitrogenous compounds of
plants--thOse compounds which are of
identical composition with the animal tis-
sues and alone are capable of conversion
into them-we have thought it proper to,
dwell with some particularly on this point.
The aqueous vapor, which in temperate
latitudes oseiliates between x and III per
cent. of the Goeight of the atmosphere, be-
sides its obvious function of furnishing
rain, dew, &C.. is necessary to all living or
ganiSms in checking the rate of eVapora-
ton. The atmosphere is capable of re-
t,ceiving only a limited amount of aqueous
vapor-this amount increasing as its tenn
lperature rises; when it contains as much
as itcan tor its temperature, it Is said TO be
saturated with vapor; it can contain no
more. Now, when the atmosphere is sat-
urated with aqueous vapOr, evaporation is
I,eEtirely arrested and the further the at
mosphefe is from the. point of satura-
tion-in other words, the drier it is-the
more rapid is the rate of evaporation.
Now, when we reflect that much more
than half of living organisms is water, that
this water is necessary to their vitality, we
see at once how essential to the existence of
all the forms OF animal and vegetable life
is the aqueous vapOr of the atmosphere.
If, by some magic, we could remove it. our
bodies would shriVel at once into unsightly
mummies; plants would wilt, wither, and
die. The simeon is SO fatal only because it
is a dry wind; it has come across arid des-
ertS which have removed its moisture. In
droughtS, the whiting of corn is due to the
fact that more water escapes by eYapora-
tion than is supplied by the roots. Some
times a crop will sustain a protracted
Idrought better than at other times, though
Lall the circumstances of soil, tillage, &C.,
Emay be the same. In the former case, there
is more aqueous vapOr in the atmosphere,
and the piant loses less water by evapora-
| tion. ~. ~ Eka t4 DIS
1t all the constituents of the atmosphere
maintained throughout its whole extent
the same density as at the surface of the
earth, the atmosphere would be about 5
miles high; aud its constituents, if arranged
i'll the order of specific gravity, would Oc-
cupy the following relative positions:
First stratum. water. Observation-Disclosures. inches
Second stratum. carbonic acid. 13 feet.
Ehird stratum, OK ygen mile.
Fourth stratum, nitrogen. ............. miles.
.I-25oO OF thew lume. or $4,000 of the weight OF
tho atmosphere is carbonic acid. The we ght of the
air on square inch being Is lbs, 5OO6 or IS
square yards. each containing 1895 square inches
make an acre. Hence, eere=4St0xl2ss =627a64C
Plus 454 lbs, of carbnnic acid an acre. three
elevenths of which (3-lDis carbon. -- ---.r
!, WE placed on our subscription list yes
teriay the name of the largest man in the
United States. Noah Orr, of Marysville,
Union county, measures six feet seven
inches in his stocking feet, and weighs
about five hundred pounds. He was born