Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-04-10


and holiness that our affections and
thoughts are bound to his as by an
electric chain of sympathy? In his
every day avocation the planter has
abundant food for contemplation and
study. He draws his resources from
the caverns of the earth, the depths
OF the ocean, the invisible air, and
the willing soil, and yet he is ignor-
ant OF the first principles employed
IN utilizing these productions of ma
ture.
A plant is itselfinsignificant in ap-
pearance, yet in its structure and
functions it bears a striking analogy
to animals. From their termination
both are supplied with the elements
or nutrition In the seed and egg un-
TIL they are provided with limbs for
locomotion, and for obtaining the
means of substance. The elementary
substances by which they are sus-
tained in the incubative state are al
most Identical. Four elementary
principles in nature--Oxygen, carbon,
hydrogen and nitrogen--fOrm the
basis OF animal and vegetable life.---
Both are organized beings; that is,
they possess organs for their support
and perpetuation of the blood and the
sap and for discharging the functions
OF respiration, disgestion and the as
sipiilation or conversion of their food
into flesh and vegetable fibre. Ami
NAL flbrin, 'albumen and gelatine,
from which are made the flesh and
blood of our bodies, are precisely SIM
lfnr to vegetable fibrin, albumen and
] NJ nf 4, s.1. 4
the different parts Of plants. On an
alizing the processes by which ami
mails and vegetables live, we can
comprehend how, by the exchange of
certain gases, a due supply of healthy
atmospheric air is maintained. We
are well aware that the air we
breathe is composed of definite pro-
portions of oxygen and nitrogen
gases and a trace of carbonic acid
gas. In the process of animal respi-
ration, oxygen gas Is absorbed, as a
certain portion of it is necessary to
the support of animal existence, and
carbonic acid is thrown off, the inha-
lation of which in any considerable
quantities by animals is destructive
of life. We will readily perceive,
that from the innumerabie sources of
carbonic acid, through the respiration
of animals, the processes of COM
bustion, volcanic eruptions, and many
other sources, the atmosphere would
become so loaded with this deleterious
agent as to cause the extinction ofan-
imal life, was there not q counterbal-
ancing agency. But mark the mu-
nificence and providence of nature I:
plants absorb carbonic acid and evolve
oxygen gas. Thus we perceive, i'm
these two great kingdoms of nature,
nice counterpOise, whereby what Is
regarded rs an element of destruction
to one is employed by the other rs q
source of vitality and ndnutrition. We,
therefore, cannot look with contempt
upon the humblest floweror the most
noxiOus weed, for we are measurably
dependent upon them for the blithe-
some countenance and elastic step of
health and happiness. This faculty
OF atmospheric absorption by plants
presents the only rational method of
accounting for the manner in which
vegetation was originally supported
before the formation of soil by veget-
able decomposition In the possession
of extensive leafy expansions, by
which plants derived their nourish-
ment chiefly from the air, and de-
manded but limited supply from the
soil.
All fertile soils have aIiberal suppIy
of organic and inorganic materials.
the former being the products of the
decay of vegetable and animal mat
ter, the latter resulting from the dis
Indignation of rocks I'm the orignal
formation of the soil. II IL rare
that we find more than from To 7
per cent. of vegetable matter. inor.
ganic matter is found in variable Dro-
portions. The presence of MANY acids
and alSalies is needed. not 0nly i'm
contributing to the elementary CON
stituents of plants. but i'm rendering
many substances soluble and assim.
liable which otherwise would be val
ueless. Silica. potash. soda. phos.
phoric and sulphuric acids are found
In many plants. Some require pre
dominance of the silicates to afford
strength and durability to the stalks.
All plants of the grass kind demand
a large share of the silicote of nofash'
Wheat REQUIRES a liberal supplv of
carbonate of potash, 100 parts of the
stalks of which yield Is per cent. of
ashes, while the same quantity of the
dry stalks of barley afford but per
cent, and OATS only per cent. 1t is
evident, therefore, that the same soil
which would support but one crop of
wheat would bear three of oats" In
the ashes of 1000 pounds of the straw
of wheat we find 2s per cent. of Sill
cate of potash, in that of the grain
per cent; while in the same quantity
of the dry straw of oats we have As
per cent, and i'm that of the grain 10
per cent. This fact may, in a meas
ure, account for the truth of the pre-
vailing opinion with reference to the
lpXhauStinp notiira of tho ont cron