The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-27

The first aim OF the agriculturist IL. IN a
cases, to produce plants. For the pioductio
OF large amount Of vegetable matter natur
has made ample provision; but often the far
mer would raise more of certain elemen
than nature has provided for. When the farme
would raise more than nature has provided fo
he must assist nature. Hence the importance
even to practical farmers OF knowledge o.
what plant food is, how it is prepared, how as
simulated by the growing plant, and what the
SPECIAL function OF each variety OF plant food
u.s. 1t Is evident that we can't expect our sol
to always do for US II we never do for it, We
must return part or assist it In opening times
WIN back by which these elements OF wealth
these substances for plant growth are held A
knowledge OF what plant food is, then, AMI no W
1t must be prepared, either naturally or arti-
iicIally is DESTROYS.
No tact is more obvious than that plants
must get their food from either the air or the
soil. There is no other source To be in an
available form, this food whether from ar or
soil must be ia the form Of salts (fron soiD
or of gases (from atmosphere) These salts
and gases are made up Of elements" by which
term We mean matter in its simplest form.
or elements all matter then Is composed. Mat
ter 10 conveniently divided into Organic and
Inorganic. Organic matter is the product OF
growth; il is matter that has been acted upon
by that vital force OF which we have no control
1t is not tangible; II is, perhaps, rncompre-
hensble. We need not understand it. Where
ignorance is bliss It's folly to be WISE Or
game matter is mostly combustible NAV be set
on tire and burnt to invisible gases All matter
not organic. not organized, is inorganIc-rocks.
SOIL air, water. Most OF the inorganic sub
stances that concern us are incombustible. Or
ganic matter is converted into inorganic by
combustion and decay; and, vice versa. inor-
ganIcis changed to organic by process OF growth.
The organic elements of plant growth are nu-
merous and complex, while the inorganic are
few and simple. We consider the last first.
The chemical analyses, to which we owe our
knowledge OF how nature works in her mystic
rlous ways with plants has demonstrated the
fact that the volatile and destructible parts OF
Organic bodies are for the most part made up
or tour substances, viz: carbon HYDROGEN. OK
y3en ana nitrogen, some sulphur and phos- s
phorus. The ash or inorganic parts contain s
phosphorus, sulphur, silica chlorine, potassium. {
soda, calcium Qime), magnesia. IRON, and man t
camera. OF these fourteen elements all veg 6
etabie matter Is composed much the same. and .
about as lntiicately as words are made ND OF 8
letters. or the properties OF these elements s
we learn in Elementary Chemistry. and must a
not stop here.
ASH INGREDIENTS
The ash OF plants consists OF fixed acids. OK Il
ldes and certain salts, and are present in every u
'ell OF The growing plant One portion of these q
ingredients Is soluble in water and occurs in b
he sap. This portion consists mostly of salts u
'f various kinds, such common salt. and the
uphates of lime and magnesla. The insoluble
portion forms the cell walls the tissues. and
Exists in the solid form. BY oxidation we may @,
separate ash into these two forms. a,
FACTS. ey
L. The proportion Of asa Is not inyarlable. CO
the same species OF plants in different parts ID
4 the same plant, nor in different plants. The nc
Tood and seeds are poorest in ash elements. &C
ne stems OF herbaceous plants next richer. and pi
ne foliage OF herbaceous plants the richest.
z The same part of given plant has diff Nc
'rent amount at different stages Of growth. TO
l.: La cereals at time OF maturing rapid in PA
ease Is found in the chaff and loss in stem. Ply
also knots have more. In general, the 10
Mount OF ash decceases with age. an
o. Healthy, vigorous plants draw more ash ITO
ements than weak, sickly ones. ILL.,: In dry ere
a'on' or on dry soil, we all know that plants yes
stunted o. mature earlier than IN wet Una
ason, or on moist SOL, or under the influence -
iertiiizers. 10 the latter cas-, the vegetation Oh
more succulsnt, larger, and contains more say
a-eiements. But in all cases, ID :" The ash ano
msnts are indispensable to the growth and hes
itnuty OF plants" Even in mold. Yeast SOU
nsi and the other most simple vegetable sub mus
'nces chemical analysis never fails 70 find 700
'm. The fact Is still more evident IN higher be
ms but is true for all, and this is also proved una
trying to grow plants in condition such
u they can't get ashs substances. 1t can't bs II
~ Hence we conclude that these ash -spb- mad
noes must be present before the primary act shlr
growth can commence, before the atmo- the
ieric food can be assimilated, and before that
'etabo matter can be organized These ele- Mr..
nts may be appropriated, to some extent solit
tho plant grow from food stored in tho
itself. Plant seeds where the plant can Oh
none OF these elements, supply all the 9TH law.
necessary conditions, and though the seeds out ,
germinate, may develop leaves even. thew
then grow yellow and die. Now collect thu III
ntS and you will find the came amount OF reco,
substances that there are in the same num- And
OF seeds planted. (2) The proportion of conn
ingredients may vary but can not rise no e
ve nor fall below certain limits CD We With
9 reason to believe tnat each cell OF the tails
= 0ou'a'ns certain, nearly invariable, hibit
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