The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-03
The AbsOrptiNe Power Of Soil.


1t is an important discovery of recent
date that soils have the power of sepa-
rating, not only ammonia, hut other
bases also, from their solutions, and of
holding them with great tenacty after
their absorption. Thus 100 grains of
clay soil taken from the plastic clay for
nation of England absorbed $3.50 grains
of potash from solution of caustic pot.
ash, containing one per cent. of the al
kali. Ii is interesting to observe that
the LIQUID was not in this case filtered
through the soil, but the cold solution
was merely left in contact with it for
twelve hours.
1t has been further shown that soils
have the ability to separate the alkaline
bases from the acids with which they
are combined. When saline solutions
were slowly filtered through soils FIVE or
six inches deep, the liquids which pass
ed through were deprived of their aka
line bases, as potash, soda, ammonia,
and magnesia, and only the acids were
to be found III combination with some
other base. Thus when muriate of am
monia was filtered through the soil, the
ammonia was removed, and cores
ponding quantity of lime, in combination
with muriate acid, was found in the fl
tered liquid. In the same way sulphate
of potash was deprived of its base, and
the liquid collected gave sulphate of
lime on analysis.
Those soils which have the greatest
amount of capillary porosity will con-
dense the greatest amount of manurial
substances on their internal surfaces,
VIII retain them longest against the adj
verse solvent action of water, and will
give them out more readily to the root
lets of the growing plant. A mass of
adhesive clay will absorb but very
slight amount of available manure but
if this same mass is rendered friable by
mechanical processes, its power of alb
sorpton is amazingly increased. In view
of what has been stated, it is very clear
that one way in which blowing increases
porosity by pulverization.
Again, many manual substances exist
in the soil, which, being insoluble, exer-
else no action on the growth of plants,
and contribute nothing to their nutri.
ton; but by the slow, though regular
action of the frosts and the rain, the air
and the sunshine, insoluble and refrac-
tory compounds are reduced to a solu-
bic state, and are appropriated and held
on deposit by the soil to the credit of
the next cultivated crop. This explains
the well-known fact that soils that have
been cropped to the very verge of bar
renness will recover their fertility if al
lowed to remain long enough under the
action of climatic influences to saturate
the soil with the necessary plant food
which they have unlocked from their
chemical combination, and given to the
soil in proper physical condition.
These changes are brought about
more rapidly when certain mechanical
changes of condition are wrought upon
the soil.
Carbonic acid is one of the most ac-
tive Of the agents employed in bringing
the inSoluble organic matter in the soil
into that physical condition in which it
becomes available as plant food; in or
der that this acid may be formed it is
essential that the carbonaceOus matters
in the soil should be brought into direct
contact with the atmosphere, from
which they procure the oxygen neces-
sary to convert them into carbonic acid.
SO long as stagnant water remains in the
soil. or so long as the water remains in a
dense or a very compact condition, it
is impossible for the carbon to be con
verified into acid.-B0Ston Journal o.
Chemistry.