The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-02
FER TET,TXRRS.
NnrRIsnMENr OLE pI.ANTs

NOrRIsHMENT or PLANTS.
II the products derived from the decOmpO-
sitiOn Of plants are within reach Of a growing
plant they are absorbed, rs we have previous
ly seen Sunday and Weekly DEMOCRAT files
by the roots Of that plant md thus assist in
the formation Of another plant; because de-
composing plants are Of no utility in soils OK
Gept for such gaseous and mineral composites
which they contain, not on account Of their
combined organic substance
WHEN VEGETATION BEGAN
ut the earth surface there was no pre-exist-
ing organic matter in nature on which il could
have fed or natured. Vegetation merely be-
gan with the aid Of soluble mineral products
taken from the earth, and with the assistance
OF the gaseous substances that were available
from the atmosphere.
Such was the origin of all the subjects Of
the vegetable kingdom. Now, since organic
species never alter in their nature which Is
no less unaterable than their substance it fol-
lows that plants at present live and feed ~
plants OF olden times did, with the aid of gas
and minerals
Hence, we should not forget the important
result arrived at in these Investigations, that
PLANT FOOD IS INORGANIC
and that the said food must he converted into
d soluble form.
A plant is q combination OF cellular tissues
OF various forms and closed on all sides
In order to penetrate through the roots 0 (
plants, their food must pass through the
walls Of their tissues by that force and law of
nature, according to which two liquids Of q
diterent nature, separated by o membrane,
will pass through it in order to mix together,
and to form between them an equilibrium of
density. tBOuSSingault. AgrOnOmJ On &C
count Of this an exchange takes place in the
last calultP of roots between interior sap and
exterior solutions.
fbANT FOOD MUST EE DISSOLVED,
thrretole, so as to permit its absorption.
tcrhllzers must likewise be applied ina sol
ubIe state, without which thn6Y would not
serve tholr purposes. They would serve
iner3ly as an adjunct capable Of improving
the mechanical and physical qualities Of the
soil. instead Of being nutrHiOua.
We may in consequence lay down the add.
fional principles, that fertilizers must be sOlu-
bic, or must be capable Of becoming soluble
Until they have affirmed that state fertilizers
are merely reserves for food, according to
George Vile.
1t follows that with the aid Of such elements
as constitute plants and manure the crops
VIII prosper and feed, however poor or sterile
this soil Is, while the same result could NOT
be expected with manure proper Hence fer
tlnHerS can be prepared whose effects will be
superior to those Of manure. because they
can b', procured IN more soluble and more
aSstmable state.
The next investigation suggesting itself ia
whether or not the Fertilizers should contain
simultaneously, in their composition ali ttc
elements OF plants. or whether a few only are
necessary, and, If 50, what those few clements
are.
When We have solved This problem we shall
have aScertatn"d the dnC 3ive knowled0e IF
tertIlIzerS, and thence Of chemical fertilizers
In order TO proceed in this Investigation We
cannot retraCc the history and description OF
all trials made in order to discover the artiGn
Of each one Of those plant elements, but. con
SultlDg the best acknowledged authorities.
we shall see the practical results obtained