The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-27
OF plant; (c) variety Of plant and development

Of the part; (d) soil or supply Of food.
or these causes of variation the supply {
food-the fertility Of soll--has the greatest iu
= Auonce. This varies the vigor and relative de
. velopment OF the plant. This alone may caus
a variation in the weight OF bushel OF oat
from Al to "a lbs. There are SO many cause
Of variation that it seems impossible to ascer
v tain the Normal composition of the Ash o
: Plants 1t has been well proved that unde
an artificial supply of any one of the elements
plaster, for example, the plant will not onl
mechanically contain more but will chemical,
combine more in the vegetstive process.
This excess, however, may not be made t.
vary with the amount OF the element 30 APP
piled. apply, for example, any amount o.
plaster and the plant can not be made to APP.
proprate it all When the indispensable sub
stances are taken up in excess they are dis
posed OF: LIST, by dissolvng 1t and dlffusing
throughout the juices. I'd, They may exude
upon the surface, as an efforrescence, and be
washd of by rain or 3d. The soluble matters
the most beautiful crystals, concretlons or in
crustations OF cell walls and then be set aside
from the sphere OF vital action.
1t must not be supposed that elements exist
in the plant in the forms in which we know
them. They do not. Every conceivable COM
bination takes place. insolubles become solu-
bles and the most soluble become insouble
Alliance after alliance is made, strange part
ners join hands and unite never to separate.
FUNCTIONS AND SOURCES OF ASH ELEMENTS.
Soda-The source is chloride OF sodium or
common salt Soda is not indispensable to
growth but is to maturing OF fruit. The guam
tity is very small that's necessary.
Chlorne-Of this we may say the same a. OF
soda, as to necessity, same source. 1t is never
found absent
Sulphur-The great available source of sui
phur Is sulphuric acid. It's great function Is in
forming the albuminoids. II you wish to see
how it makes an albumoid smell, just break
rotten egg.
Observation-Disclosures OF PHI. acio with |
lime or magnesia is the source. Without ph |
the phosphorzed or ordoriferous oils are not
formed. These oils perform the physical func-
ton OF facilitating the transmission OF the al
buminoids from the leaves where they are
formed to the seeds and growing parts Of the
plant.
ALKALIEs AND ALKALI EARIHs.
Their source is the numerous salts, such as
common salt. salts OF lime, potash, etc., ETC.
Their Office is to assist in forming various veg
stable or organic acids, OF which each vegetable
las one peculiar to ITSELF ;
The general function OF silica is to give ii
1dity, frmness, to slender plants. 1t gives
keleton. It's sources are inexhaustbe On G
ur sandy farms it makes the bulk of the soil,
hough not always in available alliances but, v
enerally speaking, we need not invest IN these r
Silicated- super -phosphstes OF lime, magne- q
Ia, and potash, to augment the insufficient n
lpply of silica which renders our soils barron b
; late advertisement puts it. a
OK the functions of chlorine forgot to speak. N
is to aid in transferring the starch formed \
| matured leaves to newer organs, especially p
the fruits where it is accumulated in large 81
lantitles. In the absence OF CT. the leaves h'
acome too full for utterance,n enlarge. roll fc
and present an unhealthy, and useless bt
lomaly. Fleshy leaves illustrate this. d.
IRON. '"
rro, s.,,- be
Iron gives foliage its peculiar beautiful :,
cen. Without iron the plant is pale and
en white like cellar grown potato sprouts.
en- in full sunshine. In the absence Of iron. -
Q plant may unfold buds at the expense O, o.
substance in the seeds, but such buds have
t the power OF assimilatng carbon, hence
tual growth or increase is impossible. To a
Int IN this condition supply iron, and it will =,
row. and grow, and grow" Any solution of -
n Tor this purpose may be applied 10 either -,
its or leaves The iron causes the proto- -
SIN to 30 change as to revvify the chloro- c.
IL IN which resides the power OF the plant
decompose carbonic acid, give off oxygen
appropriate the carbon. Then, without
there can be no proper growth no in a'i
ase at the exposure Of atmospheric food of
etable life.< Sachs and others have shown o.
manganese can not take the place OF iron w.
his function. AS to the special functions 80
the other elements OF ash we know and can apl
but little. We do know that potash lime ,1o
magnesia are essential to the life and
th OF animals. Plants form the great "N'
ice OF animal food ergo. These elements -,
It be present to prepare plants for animal '''-
J. But just why the vegetable cell can not ,''O
elaborated without them we are, as vet, '''e
Die to comprehend.