The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-16

pasture. the varied and abundant fruit
and other natural productions. But ma
ture is just, for that which is grown upor
the land is restored to it bv decay, or by
the animals and birds which consume it.
tits man alone who robs and impover-
ishes the land, by neglecting to return
to its incombustible elements. Liebie
says, truly, at p. 229 Of his ''Moderr
Agriculture" Large towns, like bottom
less pits, gradually swallow up the con.
ditions of fertility of the greatest coun
tries.''
How ARE PLANTS BUILT UP OR FORM.
ED?-We ought as agriculturists, to
know this, so as to be able to employ the
right building materials in the right
place. mean the subsoil as well as in
the top soil, for we cannot manure the
sabseil through the upper soil, as the
latter has the power to arrest much more
of the elements of manure than we ever
apply to it. Liebig ("Modern Agricul-
ture," p. 25) says: plants contain
combustible and incombustible elements.
The latter, which compose the ash left
by all parts of plants on combustion,
consist, in the case of our cultivated
plants, essentially of phosphoric acid,
potash, silicic and sulphuric acids, lime,
magnesia, iron. chloride OF sodium.
Their combustible portion is derived
from carbonic acid, water, and ammo
mia, which, as elements of food, are
equally indispensable. By the vital pro-
cess plants are formed from these mate
rails when the atmosphere and soil sup
ply them at the same time in suitable
quantity and in the proper proportions.
The atmospheric elements do not nour-
ish without the simultaneous action of
the elements of the soil, and the latter
are equally valueless without the form
er. The presence of both is always re-
quired for the growth of the plant. =
An element of food is Ineffective if there
be absent single one of the other ele-
ments of food which are conditions of its
activity" In Cheshire the one thing
wanting was bone-earth phosphate of
time). Our own bodies are formed of
the same elements as plants, and l have
often caused merriment when l have
said. in the presence of good assem-
blage, like the present, of well-devel-
Oped agriculturists, that we are all gas
and water. except very small percent
age OF earthly matter. If desiccated 76
per per cent. of our weight would 60 off
as steam, and if we were then burned
20 per cent. more would 60 to the air as
gases, leaving only the small percent
age OF incombustible ash which we had
consumed in our food. and which was
indispensably necessary for our forma-
ton. Without plenty OF water the ele-
ments OF our bodies, like the sap in
plants. would not circulate. We can
see, at the kensington Museum, the de-
tails of our formation. Economical
housewives would feel uncomfortable it
aware that in every pound of lean meat
they get three quarters of pound OF
water. Meat is much dearer food than
bread and cheese, or than oatmeal and
milk, and our laborers we'll know this.
In my minds eye picture in myself the
atmosphere filled with undeveloped
forms OF plants and animated creatures.
We may safely paraphrate Shakespeare
substituting chemist for poet-who
says. The poets eye. in fine frenzy
roliag doth glance from heaven to earth,
from earth to heaven, and as magma
ton (science) bodies forth the forms of
things unseen, the poets Chemistry
pen turns them to shapes, aud gives to
airy nothing local habta,ion and a
name." Professor Tyndall HIS enlight-
ened Us on the subject of solid matter in
air; and as for its perpetual motion. we
have only TO examine sunbeam in a
dark room or cellar. The bulk of every
plant and living object is derived from,
and ultimately goes to the air. Under
takers always bore hole in !eaden cot
fins for the escape OF gases, which would,
otherwise, bulge and burst the coffin.
Recently an undertaken (green in the
matteO omitted to make . hole in the
leaden coffin, and was astonished at find
ing it iorce,l out Of shape, and CUR
Cling noise within. In his distress he
applied to friend, who soon managed
"a escape for the impent gases. The
120, 900 100 tons Of Goals which we raise
annually once came from the air as veg
citation. except in both cases the trif1ing
percentage Of incombustible ash which
ever was, and ever will he. earthly and
nom aerial. A city or haystack disap
ECsttS III COtuOOStluus ICASlu@ Univ bUS
earthly or non.aerial ashes Well. then
il The air is SO full Of good and necessar,
things, how can we best them tor oul
use and profit? How can we best ge
back from the atmosphere that enor
nous amount of carbonic acid and am
monia (plant food) given to it By decay
combustion. and by other sources. Ii
well-drained and properly cultivated
soils the air circulates freely. and thu
roots OF plants obtain from the carboui'
acid and ammenia circulating within it
portion Of their food By their roots. jus
as the leaves do from the carbonic aci,
and ammonia in the atmosphere. Lie
big, in his Principles OF Agriculture
Chemistry" No. :, p. 10. SAYS: Tn
roots OF plants in regard to the absorb
ton OF their atmospheric food behav'
like the leaves-that is. they possess
like these, the power of obsorbing cal
bonic acid and ammonia. and of employ
ing these in their organism. in the sam
way as if the absorption had taken plac
through the leAves.'
! observation-disclosures my repeatin
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