Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-10-21
SORREL AND POTASH.

The People is not yet quite satisfied about
this question. After quoting our article, ex
planning the way in which sorrel extracts Its
potash from soil where other plants fail for
want of it, the editor says -
In this sense sorrel may, perhaps, be Justly
denominated II 'potash plant" or II DISCOVER
and elaborator of that important element.
But that is not exactly the point ut issue rs
we understand it. What we commended was
that sorrel seems to be the spontaneous
growth of exhausted lands-and by exhaust
ed lands we mean those that have been ex-
hausted of certain elements necessary for
plant growth. and among these elements
potash is the most promnent-hence it could
not be called potash plant" But the edi-
tor of the FARMER thinks otherwise, and pro-
ceeds to show how the sorrel with its oxalic
acid, which it gets from the atmosphere.
compels feldspar to yield up the potash which
it has securely locked up and holds in def
ance OF the action of the air or the moisture
of the soil. This is all very well. but hov
happens Udt Sorrel spontaneously takes pos
session QfhOse soils IN aChich the potash Is so
securely protected? The weed must certain
ly start and throw out leaves before it can
commence its labors of distilling acid from
the mir and applying it to the minerals to
compel them to give it food. 1t was in this
sense that we objected to its being called II
potash plant" That it does not spring up
where potash abOunds in n condition for
ready assimilation, and that it does not make
its appearance on account of any potash ele-
ment there may be in the soil, whatever NAV
be its relations to that element in the subse-
quent periods of its growth.
This question was raised by the pubica-
ton of certain theories in relation to q favor
able condition of the soil for the production
of sorre, and the object of discussing it is to
get some light as to what that condition real
ly is, and how it may be changed or reme-
died. instead of how the weed grows after it
gets possession of the soil. If the analysis of
sorrel shows that whatever potash they con-
tain is locked up in feldspar or any other
mineral, beyond the reach of ordinary plants,
1t seems to us our theory is the correct one,
viz: that sorrel spontaneously springs lp in
soils which are deficient in potash in con-
dition for ready assimilation, and that any
application which would restore the potash
element, would enable the soil to produce
other and more valuable plants.
Now there is good deal more to every
question of any Importance than can be COW
cred in II brief article, and in showing that
sorrel is what is called potash plant" in
the same sense as the potato is so-called,
(and also in still higher sense as being
able to extract its supply of potash from II
soil where the potato could not), we did not
aim to discuss all the points that might be
raised in regard to it.
1t being conceded that sorrcl is plant that
does contain a large proportionate quantity
of potash, and that it can obtain this potash
where cultivated plants cannot, Mr.. Gilmore
now enquiries how it happens that sorrel
spontaneously takes possession of these bar
rem soils. We reply, for the same reason
that the Indians took possession of the
"Great American Desert" or that the Esqui-
maux have congregated in the vicinity of the
North Pole.
Sorrel does not like these barren soils, al
though it can live on them, and produces
seed there in abundance. If you want to
make sorrel plant thoroughly happy, give
it a good, light soil, manure it with ashes,
md Keep all other plants aaoay from IT, You
will then see how sorrel can grow, and if