The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-02-23

The A~bsDrptiye POWER Oh Suh.
1t is an important discovery of recent
date, that soils have the power OF separat-
ing not only ammonia but other bases also
from their solutions, and of holding them
with great tenacity after their absorb
ton. Thus n hundred grains of clay
soil, taken from the plastic clay forma-
ton of England, absorbed 1850 gr'lns OF
potash from a solution of caustic potash
containing one per cent. of the alkali. 1t
is interesting to observe that the liquid
was not, in this case, filtered through the
soil but the cold solution was merely lett
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 solution were
slowly filtered through soils five or SIX
inches deep, the liquids which passed
through were deprived of their alkaline
bases, as potash, soda, ammonia and mag
nesia, and only the acidswere 20 be found
in combination with some other base,
Thus. when muriate of ammonia was
filtered through the soil, the ammonia
was removed, and a corresponding guam
titv of lime, in combination WITH
muriatic acid, was found in the uttered
liquid. In the same way. sulphate OF
potash was deprived of its base, and the
LIQUID collected gave sulphate OF lime.
These soils which have the greatest
amount of capillary porosity will con,
dense the greatest amount OF mannrlai
s1 Instances on their internal surfaces,
will retain them longest against the ad,
verse solvent action Of water" and VII
rive them out most readily to the o
lets of the growing plant.
A mass Of adhesive clay will absorb bu'
a yery slight amount of available man
ure Int if this same mass is endere
friable, by mechanical processes, 1t
mower of absorption is amazingly IN
creased. In view of what has been stated
it is very clear that one way IN whici
blowing increases the fertility OF lang /
by increasing its porosity by pulveriza
ton.
Again, many'manurial substances exls
in the soil, which, being insoluble, ex
e~rcises no action on the growth Of plants
Int nv the slow. though regular actor
of the frosts and the rain, the air and tn
sunshine, insoluble and refractory com
hounds are reduced to a soluble state
!, and are appropriated and held on deposl,
> by the soil to the credit OF the next Gu
: tivated crop. This explains the wei
> known fact that soils which have bee.
= cropped to the very verge of barrennes'
: will recover their fertility if allowed t
remain long enough under the action {
, climatic influences to saturate the SO
: with the necessary plant-tood,, Whlc
:. they have unlocked from their chemics
: combinations, and given to the soil IN
u perfectly physical condition. The'
y Changes are brought about more rapid
y when certain mechanical changes OF col
dition are wrought upon the soil.
- Carbonic acid is one of the most acti'
e of the agents employed in bringing tt
u insoluble organic matter in the soil IN
y that physical condition in which 1t .
~ comes available as plant-foot. In ord
! that this soil may be formed, 1t IS G
Is sential that the ~carbonaceous matter
n the soil should be brought into dire
contact with the atmosphere from Whit
thew procure the oxygen necessary
c%onyert them into carbonic acid.
ne long as stagnant water remains IN .
$. soii or so long as the soil is in a dense
.ts verv compact condition, it is impossit
d. fol- the carbon to be converted INC &C
to -,Iourndl of Chemistry.