The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-04-04
Chemistry in Farming.

The following article, from the Jour-
nal of chemistry, contains information
which every farmer should possess.
The soil is that upon which the farm
er spends his labor The atmosphere
and the weather he cannot control, al
though, by close observation, he may
forecast it.
No plant will flourish end mature IN
less its roots are situated in soil con-
tanning all the mineral elements found
in the ashes of the plant. The soil is
the home of the plaintiffs birthplace
and station, where it runs through all
the different stages of its development,
and whence it receives its nutriment.
The fertility of the soil depends upon
its fneness of particles; since the food
OF plant must enter it in a state of
solution. That is, the mineral matters
must be dissolved in water. and the ro-
piditY of their solution is in direct pro-
portion to the extent of their surface
exposed. Hence, the finer the particles
of earth, the more abundantly will the
plant be supplied with the necessary
elements.
The soil has the power of absorbing
moisture from the atmosphere, and con-
densing the same in its pores, and the
absorption of water vapors determines
its capacity for absorbing other vapors
and gases.
The part which capillarity of the soil
plays is somewhat analogous to that of
lamp-the soil is the lamp and the
wick, and the water is the oil.
By the action of the sun and the wind
the surface is rendered dry by evapora-
ton, and as fast as the particles of wa
ter escape in vapor, their places are
supplied In capillarity from the stores
of moisture below; the ascending water
brings along with it the soluble mineral
matter of the soil, and thus the roots of
the plants are situated in a stream of
their appropriate food, and those parti-
cles of material not taken up in the It's
sues of the plant are brought to the
surface to be washed down by succeed
ing rains. With a deep subsoil and
good drainage, capillarity aids gravita-
ton, and the minerals brought to the
surface then have downward distribu-
ton.
1t is easy to see, In a good soil well
titled, how capillarity thus acts, keeping
the roots of the plant constantly i'm
mersed IN a stream of mineral solution
that is now ascending, now descending,
but never at rest, and how the food of
the plant is thus made to circulate
around the organs fitted for absorbing
it.
The same causes that maintain this
perpetual supply of water to the plant
are also efficacious in constantly pre-
pairing new supplies. The materials of
the soil are constantly undergoing
chemical changes whereby the silica,
lime, phosphorus, potash, &c, become
soluble in water and accessible to the
plant.
Water charged with carbonic acid and
the oxygen is the chief source in the
chemical changes. The more extensive
and rapid circulation of water in the
soil, the more mineral matter Will be
rendered soluble in a given time, and
other things being equal, the less will
the soil be dependent on manures to
keep up its fertility.
Return to the soil, in the shape of
manures, compensation for the precious
minerals taken off with the soil. Plow
deep, pulverize the soil well, and with
thorough drainage you can depend on
grains to sell and your farms will i'm
prove In productiveness- bearing in
mind that different crops draw differ
emily upon the mineral resources, and
that the rotation of crops has a tenden-
cy to fertilize the soil; for instance,
clover with its long roots brings to the
surface the rare minerals and natures a
fine crop where wheat fails to produce,
and in addition to that there viii be a
residue of minerals rendered available
through the chemical action of the clo-
yer sufficient to maintain a good yield
of wheat or corn