The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

III oAAt ~ NAN
what Is the evidence to show that re-
verted phosphoric acid is not available
the first year? Unless / am greatly mis-
taken, reverted p~hosphoric acid Is a
very different substance from the IL
soluble form. the chief difference, from
a practical standpoint, between the re
verted and soluble, being that the for
mer i much less diffusible in the soil,
and, consequently, not 50 likely to be
found by the plant roots, though it may
be perfectly assimilated by all crops.
And this seems also to be the opinion OF
Prof. Johnson, on best authority Rep.
of Conn. Tx. Sta. 1873, i. 10.
Again, We are found fault with for
the limited amount Of chlorine and soda
in the 81 pounds Of salt, although 1t
supplies the full amount of soda which
Mr.. Meachem calls for, and twice az
much chlorine. But not content with
this objection he offers another, VIZ
salt does not furnish these elements In
the proper proportion to each other IN
which they are found in the plant We
like to see reasonable objections and are
always willing to reply to them, but
when there is such an evident attempt
as this to throw dust in the readers
eyes, it tries our patience. Mr.. Meacham
knows, if he knows anything about the
matter, that this is no real objection;
the chlorine in the plant may partly
exist in combination with soda, potash
or magnesia. When salt is placed in
the soil, it is soon decomposed either by
the action Of the soil or the roots OF
plants and it does not make a particle
of difference whether the chlorine and
soda exist in the proportion needed or
not, as long IL they are in sufficient
quantity.
And right here is another example of
this style of argument-an attempt to
make Il point at the price Of misleading
the reader. 1t is said, ''the affinity Of
chlorine for soda is so powerful that it
requires SO pounds of sulphuric acid to
convert 100 pounds of common salt into
sulphate of soda" Now, sulphate of
soda is a combination Of sulphuric acid
and sodium in certain detnite and .fred
proportions, and it requires no more
sulphuric acid, in proportion to the
quantity of sodium, to make it from
common salt than from any other com
bination of the base, or from the latter
uncombined. The quantity ofacid used
is then no measure of the affinity of
chlorine for sodium or, in other words,
of the difficulty of decomposing the
compound.
But it seems quite certain that there
is necer any need Of supplying either
chlorine Or soda as plant food. Prof.
johnson concludes, from careful expert
ments, that, if either are really needed
by plants, a minute amount Is sufficient
How Crops Grow The same author
ity has shown that when a chloride is
added to the soil the base is absorbed
and fixed, while the chlorine remains in
solution and enters into other combina-
How Crops Feed J 50 that there
is not a bit Of reason in Mr.. M~eachem's
objections to supplying these elements
In this form.
Again, this gentleman attacks rs for
wood ashes at a fair price as a
source of potash and magncsia-first,
it Is not soluble: secondly, be-
enough cannot be obtained. But
take the best form OF these articles in
artificial fertilizers, if you please. viz:
nuriate of potash and sulphate of mag
lesia, and the quantities mentioned can
De purchased for S2.64, according to
present offerings. instead of ST. SO. a.
by him while these articles
llso furnish a considerable amount of
ulphuric acid and chlorine. SO that.
counting all the fertilizing clements in
he cotton plant, from the roots to the
caves, at commercial prices, and using
dr. Meachem's own figures as to the
mount, and the cost Of producing the
otton aside from them, and we cannot
scape the conclusion that there is the
S o profit on every baie. Nor does
his gentleman seriously attempt to CON
revert this. He claims, however, that
lis valuations are as low as given by
agricultural station In the United
with the exception of iron and