The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-25
Che Iarnl.
SCIENCE APPLIED TO FARM
ING.
The use Of Brains in Farming
A Lesson in Chemistry.
FouB0ued from last geek

T. l. - L
consists of several ingredients, OF
winch the names are Potash, Soda,
Magnesia, Iron, Silica, >ulphurIc
Acid. and Chlorine.
PorAoH.-The basis Of this l. a
very soft. light, sIlver-colored metal,
called Potassium. Potassium unItes
with oxygen to form Il compound
which is known i'm chemistry a. po-
tassiumoxide or oxide Of potassium.
1t Is also called potassa, or more Ia
millarly. potash. When wood ashes
are leached the potash Is dissolved
out. and it l. the active ingredient
of the I've.
SopA. or sodium oxide, is It COM
pound OF oxygen with the metal
Sodium. What is commonly called
soda. is carbonate of soda, 4 COM
hound OF soda with carbonate acId.
Common salt contains sodium also.
but here combined with chloride
instead of oxygen. Chloride, 10y
itself. is Il yeilowish green gus. As
il mites with sodium to make chic
ride of sodium, Oh common salt,
50. when united with potassium,
it forms chloride Of potassium.
Potassium chloride is the chief m
uredient of "muriate Of potash,
one of the most important OF the
German potash salts.
LIME calcium oNide), Is the bal
sis OF lmcstones, marble, oyster
shells, and the like. In these 1t is
combined with carbonlc acid IN the
form of carbonate of lime. By
heating limestone the carbonlc
acid is driven of, and lime Is left
in its common caustlc unslacked
form.
NAGNEsIA is the oxide of the
metal magnesium. The calclned
maunesia of the apothecarieS Is
imnurc magnesia, with the carbonIc
acid expelled.
lRoN Is the same element, wheth-
or foun. in plants, manures, or
soil. Ia which it invariably occurs
in very small proportions It's an
oxide, or in The various ores from
which it is manufactured on Il large
scale.
SILIcA.-Quartz, or rock crys-
tai. is pure silica. Flint is nearly
nu.e silica Silica combined with
various other elements, make up
the larger part Of the rocks and
minerals of the globe. Sharp sand
consists chiefly Of silica.
SULpHUKIc ACID.-SulPhur *
familiar to every one in the forms
Of brlmstone and towers Of sui
phur. Sulphur united with oNy
aen. forms sulphuric oxide, or, as
:, IS more frequently called, sui
phuric acid. The ordinary sui
phuric acid of commerce, called
t.Oil of Nltriol," and used IN MAX
inc superphosphates, con lists OF
suiphuric oxide with Il proportion
of water.
SULpuArEs.-If sulphuric acid
and lime are mixed together, they
will unite and farm II chemical
compound, Sulphate OF Lime.
Gypsum or plaster Is Il more or less
impure sulpnate Of lime. Sulphu-
rio ac d and magnesla make Sui
phate of MagnesIa, which WI know
~ EPSON Salts: 1T occurs In some
Of the German Potash Salts. So
Stimulate Of Soda consists OF sui
phuric acid and soda. Sulphate of
Potash. the basis Ct the best potash
salts. used as fertilizers, consists OF
sulphuric acid united to potassa.
Sulphate of Ammonia, which Is a
valuable fertilizer, consists OF am
monia and sulphurlc acid.
PHospuoRIC ACID.-Phosphorus
is the material which is used for
the tips of friction matches. and
causes them to shine when rubbed
In the da k. 1t burns very easily,
and In so doing unltes with the
Oxygen of the air, and forms phoS-
phoric oxide, or phosphorlc acid.
PHosPHATEs.-Jus as sulphuric
acid combines with lime, potash
and other basis to make sulphates,
SO Pnosphoric Acid unltes with the
same basis to form phosphateS.
Phosphate of lime is the most I'M
portant of the phosphates. 1t Is
the basis OF bone. When bones
are burned, the water aud organic
(animai) matter are driven oil, and
we have left the bone ash, which il
nearly pure phosphate oflime. The
South Carolina, NavasSa, Canada
and other fossil and mineral phos
pilates. which are used for fertll
izers. contain more or less earthly
matters mixed with the phosphate
of lime.
WHENCE PLANTS OBTAIN TlIEIl
SUPPLIES OF FOOD.
Plants get part of their food from
- 80 $500 -,