The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-20
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, MONDAY, MAY 20, 1878

depreciation and define chemical fertilizers j, In
manures as are composed, defined and designed
under precise formula
FERTILIZERS ARE IDENTICAL.
In their action, since similar effects should re-
suit from similar causes, and thus all fertilizers
contain the same substances Admitting, there
fore the same Or identical action Of all fertili-
fessae ens 9t the soil We VII or hold
to Investigate which. In this action. are the
identical causes.
Taking
STABLE MANURE
for instance. We know that it is mixture of
animal OBJECTIONS and stable waste. fermented
for some time before being fit to use But this
knowledge does not teach US what that waste is
what Is that fermentation, and what does that
fermentation add to the manure or mixture.
THE WASTE.
az we shall now ascertain Is composed of the
straw, stalks and leaves Of plants and the de-
jections added to this are nothing else than the
forage which has gone through the digestive
apparatus of the animal.
This forage Itself Is varying quantity of
stems stalks, leaves seeds and roots Of plants
to which is to be added the water consumed by
the animal In these deiactions, of course, we
would not find the to.al bulk or weight of the
forage and water first consumed by the ami NAL
since we, are well aware that part OF 1t
Ing, hairgrowth or fall, etc Hence, waste and
forage the elements Of common manure. are
nothing else but plants. and we must. conse
WHAT PLANTS ARE,
In order to precisely define what manure Is.
plant being burned, we have left from 1t Its
ashes.
i he quantity Of ashes varies in proportion,
according to different species OF plants, from
few thousandths to 30 per cent Hence the
greater bulk of the plant has disappeared In
We furtherrnore see that the burned part dis
engaging itself from the intact mass, and being
mixed with the air in which 1t rises, is distinct
,,tt J,r, n
remains under the form OF ashes after the
burning of the plant.
With the assistance OF time, any plant which
is not artiflcially preserved will be thus re-
duced into this substance (ashes or mold
which does not burn.
The burning simply produces rapid sepa-
finally but more slowly. From this we have
1Gw the knowledge that there are In plants typ
will burn. and another that will not
Of these
TWO SORTS OF SUBSTANCES.
we can find the nature at ordinary Temporal
lures. In the solid or earthly state for one, and
in the gaseous or atmospheric state for the
other.
Starting from this point that we all know
science has @ the e9u uo substenoes
disengaged by plants subjected to prompt or
slow decomposition and that they were found
about the remaining fifth Of the air-of hydro
gen which. combined with oxygen. makes
water. OF which a certain quantity variable ac-
oording to temperaturel is always found in the
state of vapor in the air. and of carbonic acid.
which Is gas disengaged from the combustion
of coal and causes suffocation when it Is in
excess in closed room
Hence the greater part of that
INCoMBUsT1BLE SUBSTANCE OF PLANTS
Is formed with atmospheric air, water and car
bonic acid.
THE CoMBusT1BLE SUBSTANCE OF PLANTS
mr. has kam C,rhia tod IN ha
close investigation Of science, which teaches us
that this substance. ashes or earthly matter. fs
constantly composed Of silica sodium. sui phur
iron. manganese. potash lime, chlore. magne-
sta and phOsphoric acid.
1t sometimes occurs that other minerals are
found besides. but they we're not constantly met
with in the decomposition of all plants, nor
even in plants of the same species: thence their
being classified as euentfd instead of necessar y
and permanent constituents of plants.
In the soil Is producing plants oil the com
bustible and incombustibls elements which
constitute the plant have been found; these
combustible elements are. however. more
| abundant In the atmosphere which they alone
form. We can, therefore. conclude that the ee-
| from the air and from the soil.
HEAT AND LIGHT
are likewise disengaged in the combustion of
plants. SINCE these absorb and fix heat and light
The
burned.
uS rays vi lLe sun dDSOTDSu anu HS6u ny Inc
plants OF the pre- historic ages. &C umuated
| in. fathomless mines. are the power (coa,
whence. steam. et', that propel our steamboats,
and railroads. work our machinery and light
up our cities at night.
Apart from the organic principle of life, re-
producing Its effects 10 conditions proper to
Itself, plants considered solely as tangible body
| and materially are A composition of atmos-
pheric gases. of the ten minerals. and OF the
sol ar rays: or, In short a combination of air.
water, earth and fire.
All plants are. therefore. composed of
FOURTEEN ELEMENTS.
always identical In each plant The difference
of form and of properties in various species
| ere nothing but superficial and botanical; but
| chemically plants are all Of that same above
composition.
These botanical differences are to the plant
what our alphabet and arithmetic are to our
language: means OF indefinitely designing.
numbering aud measuring.
Knowing what forage is. what litter and
manure are and what constitutes plants wo
know positively and precisely, now. 'ohat is
| manure?