Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-18

meuso D0d6 VI uItre lHOStiy ultrdte VI SouaJs
which seem to be the objects of solicitous
care by many of the European Govern
ments. Potassium nitrate exercises
marked influence in increasing and acceler-
ating the growth Of vegetation. tits found
in variable quantities in most soils, the
quantity being constantly increased from
other substances in the soil. With phos-
phoric acid potash forms two phosphates
OF potassium; one known as the neutral
salt, containing only one part OF acid, and
the other as the phosphate, which
contains twice as much phosphoric
acid. These phosphates are of the most
vital Importance both to plant growth and
to the animal which uses the plant for food.
One OF the other of these phospha.es is
found in the ash of all plants. They are
ingredients of urine and other animal ma.
Dures, and it is to their presence that the
animal manures owe much of their efficacy.
The organic acds-oxalic, tartaric and
citric acids-combine with potash to form
exalates tartrates and citrates of potas-
SUM. These organic salts are found in the
stems and fruits of most plants. These
vegetable compounds of potash are what
have been termed acid salts; !. e, they
give distinct acid reactions, have sour
taste, aud contain larger amount Of acid
than is found in other known salts of the
same base and acid. When heated these
organic salts are deeomposed with the for
nation of carbonates of the bases (potas.
SUM or sodium), and it is thought that
much of the potash in wood ashes was
originally combined with oxalic, citric, or
tartaric acid, which were decomposed dur
ing the combustion of the wood with the
formation of carbonates.
The compounds of sodium which we shall
notice are the chloride, sulphate, carbonate,
phosphate and caustic soda. Chloride of
sodium, or common salt, is too well known
to need description. 1t is of very general
occurrence In small quantities in all soils,
in the ashes of all plants, and also forms
large per cent. of the ash of marine plants.
Chloride of sodium has been employed for
the promotion of plant grow b as far back
as we have any record. While being be1e-
fetal IN small quantities, it will at the same
time, if TOO thickly applied, have just the
opposite effect. This will account for the
seeming contradictions of the results of
experiments by practical farmers" who
were simply practical enough TO apply the
manure, but not skilled enough In agri-
cultural chemistry, nor we'll enough versed
in the composition of the soil to know
what quantity of salt would be beneficial.
The one probably, as if by chance,
applied but enough to bring the aggregate
amount of the constituents of salt In the
soil up to the normal quantity; the other
applied the same amount per acre to his
1arA hut lat tbar \ L.
tanned normal amount of chlorine and
sodium before the addition of the salt. 1t
can be easily seen that these two "practi-
cal agricuiturists will in all probability
get results diametrically opposed. The one,
from the fact OF his land needing the salt,
will get improved results while the other
one, whose land was not deficient in the
ingredients of salt, will either see no i'm
provement in his crops, or else, from hav-
ing a superabundance of salt in his soil,
will get negative results. These two neigh
bors will probably go to the Grange armed
with the hard facts y the one to cor
roborate the statement of the scientific
agriculturist that salt may be used as a fer
tilizer, and the other to assert the con-
trary as true, from actual experience. It
is to such experiments and results as these
that we owe much of the seeming and al
legged variance between theory and prac-
tice. The practical farmer, from having
made an experiment with results seemingly
contradicting the theory of the scientific
agriculturist, feels himself at liberty to de-
nounce the scientific theory as inadequate,
without taking into consideration the fact
that his results are taken from a single set
of experiments, made upon very few
kinds of soil, and under the most limited
conditions while the generalities OF sci
ence are drawn from all previous expert.
ments and are capable of modification for
different soils and conditions.
wHRN THE PRACTICAL FARMER
Can prove that he has complied with every
necessary condition in his experiments,
and when he has full knowledge of the
causes of his results, then he may with
confidence assert that such and such
cause will be followed by known result,
but until such is the case he must not
expect science to give way to his opinions
and to the results of his crude experience
and experiments. 1t was not the intention
to entertain the reader with our views on
the results obtained by "practical agri-
culturists, but the opportunity was not to
be missed, and too much cannot be said on
the matter as long as we have so many
self-made "agTiculturists who will con.
tend that "wheat does under certain con.
ditions ripen cheat" Sulphate of sodium
may be manufactured from common salt by
treating it with sulphuric acid toil of Wit.
rioD. Ii is constituent in small quaint
ties of all soils, and is found in variable
quantities in the ash of most plants.
1t exercises a beneficial effect on
the growth of most plants and
especially On those which contain large
per cent. of sulphuric acid, some of the
clovers, peas, vetches etc. Carbonate of
sodium is prepared on the large scale from
Chords of sodium. When first manufact
ured it contains about So per cent. of
water, and has crystalline form In
contact with the air this water of CRYSTAL
lization is lost, and the carbonate is re.
duced TO white amorphous powder, in
which form it is very generally known as
soda. Besides the carbonates of potassium
and sodium, we have the other compounds
known as bi.car donates. They contain
relatively twice as much carbonic acid as
the carbonates. These bodies are in COM
mon parlance the potash and soda salera-
tus. Instead of one part of carbonic acid
uniting with one of the potash or sodium
oxide, as in the carbonates, two parts OF
carbonic acid combine with one of the
alkaline bases potassium and SODIUM to
FORM THE BICARBoNATEs.
These bicarboDates readily part with one
half OF their carbopic acid at moderate
heat, thus being converted into the carbon
ates. The remaining portion of carbonic
acid is readily given off on contact with
almost any other acid. 1t is to the ease
with which the bicarbonate (saleratus)
parts with its carbonic acid that it owes
its value as a baking powder. They neu-
tralize any acid Tactic or acetic) which
may be formed during the rising of the
dough, by the carbonic acid being displaced
by the Tactic or acetic acids, which unite
with the base potash or soda) to form neu-
trail salts The carbonic acid which is given
off initiates the bread and imparts to it that
lightness which Is so universally desired