Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-27
Communicated.
ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.
TREES. ETC.,

Communicated.
ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.
TREES. ETC.,,
The proper understanding Of this
process In nature, being a matter 81
the first Importance to all engaged in
agricultural pursuits, l have thought
that some of the readers Of your valu.
able paper, might derivs benefit from
information I may be able to impart.
Taking advantage Of an invitation
extended in an early editorial Ia
friends In the country TO write for
your paper. l have concluded tn send
this, to he disposed Of as you may
think 1t merits. Unpublished and II
benefits one person only Of your
readers shall be fully remunerated
for my trouble.
To illustrate my theory, we will
suppose a grain Of corn, perfect in all
It's parts, placed in earth properly pre-
pared for its termination entire growth
and full maturity. It is composed Of
albumen,:: starch and germ. by the
action Of the moisture and heat II gets
where it lies, the albnmen and starch
is decomposed (rots) this decompo-
sition causes additional heat, the germ
Is enlarged (swells) and the process
Of growth commences, the pores Of
the germ are opened. and being in
close proximity to the decompOse,l
albumen and starch, it receives into
its body through that part Of it which
contains it's roots, nourishment. This
manner of receiving nourishment con.
tinues until the bud appears, which
represents at this stage Of growth the
top or stem and simultaneously ap-
pears at the other extremity Of the
germ, q root Or roots, tic first Of it,
kind.
We now have a growing germ,
much enlarged, with q root or roots
at one extremity and u! bud at the
other. The root or roots and that
part Of the germ to which they arc
attached, continue to receive nourisll-
ment as before, from the decompose,l
part Of the grain, but as this nourish-
ment causes the root or roots to grow
in length, they soon reach the earth
that surrounds the growing germ,
About this time other roots or feeders
are formed and the bud appears above
ground and is represented by the tops
of the first leaves. Thus fur the
growth is slow, indeed, but now an
other agent in vegetable growth mp
pears, which has not up to this time
been noticed. The tops Of the leaves
being exposed, the sun shines on them
and the wind blows on them, and as
sunshine represents heat, and heat
and air causes evaporation, we now
discover the new, and after this time,
the most powerful agent in its after
growth, to it's full maturity. The
growth is now greatly accelerated by
this new and powerful agent evapora-
ton, and by another absorption, and
soon the stem or stalk appears above
the ground, and we have a perfec,
plant or stalk of covn, consisting Of
roots or feeders, stem or stalk and
leaves. As the sun and air now acts
on stalk and leaves, evaporation (ou,
newly discovered AGENT is greater,
and capillary attraction, by causing
the moisture with nour.sllmcnt from
the earth in solution, to rise to all
parts of the plant to supply the place
of that which is continually carried
off by evaporation, the plant contin-
ues to grow, in an increased ratio to
the surface exposed, as exposed sur
faces of the stalk and leaves dries,
moisture is absorbed by these surfaces
from the supply brought through the
stalk by capillary attraction from the
roots or feeders from the earth.
1t results then, as a matter of course
that the earth being rich and properly
prepared and the moisture in it not
too abundant nor yet too scarce, 70,
the evaporation that the plant will
grow fast. As the moisture is taken
from the earth b.; :*s feeders Or roots,
and brings up with it nonrishment, II
is evident that the greater the evapo-
ration ESQ that it he not too great 70,
the amount of moisture in the earth
and supplied by tho roots) the faster
will be the growth of the plant; and
it is equally true and plain that the
greater tho amount of dlying surface
exposed to sun and air 70 that extent
will be increased tho rapidity of its
growth.
As plants require in their growth a
certain proportionate amount Of sew.
eral different kinds of gases accord
ing with the peculiar nature of each
kind of plant, We might reasonably
infer from analogy that they received
these different kinds Of gases through
their common feeders or.roots, and il
is probable that this is one of the i'm
portant causes rendering it necessary
to keep the earth loose and well pnl.
verised about the roots. During the
day time with drying atmosphere
when evaporation is continuous, rapid
and from every pore of the plant, al.
most none could be received. On
cloudy and rainy days and at nigh,
when there IS no evaporation these
gases might I've absorbed. to qualify.
ing unfavorable circumstances in the
growth of plants.
If the earth where the plant grove
is rich, possessing suitable nourish.
ment for the particular kind of plant
but Is too wet, the plant will not bt
profitable, what is brought through
the roots or feeders will be weak in
nourishment Qike weak soup for the
human system.) If there are man,
cloudy, rainy or damp day and nights
in succession there bcing;litllc Or NJ
evaporation, vegetation;ls checked
and plants are injured in: almost OK,