Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-04

generally conceded, that the presence OF
silica in large quantities in soils IS not
nearly so necessary as would appear from
the above fact. Plants have been grown
in artificial soils and solutions which con-
tanned but minute quantities of silica, and
which reached perfect and healthy develop.
ment, showing no signs of the lack OF
silica. Maize and wheat plants have been
grown under the same conditions, which
reached full development and were healthy
and strong, and quite as capable OF MAN.
tanning their normal upright condition as
most grains grown in soil containing an
abundance of free silica. It is a notable
fact that the upper part Of the grain stalks
contain quite as much, and often more,
silica than does the lower part. Now, If
silica yras simply necessary to impart
strength and rigidity to the plant, nature
would show her economy by providing and
fixing it in the proportion which would give
the greatest strength with the least material.
As we have said before, silica is sub.
stance which is always present in sufficient
quantities in all soils, and the buying of
silicate fertilizers, under the impression
that their application will strengthen the
crop and prevent its lodging, is pure folly
and waste of money. 1t, like magnesium,
is substance always available to plants
and present in such quantities as to be
practically unremovable.
CHLORINE.
Chlorine is an element which, al.
though it can be dispensed with during
the earlier stages of plant growth, is ab-
solutely necessary to the development of
fruit and seeds. During the growth of
plants the starch which is organized in the
mature leaves passes onward and upward
to the new. growing parts to the fruit.
and to the seed, where it is generally
stored, sometimes in considerable 4uanti-
ties for the use OF the Seeding plant. 1t
has been found that where chlorine is
withheld from plants the leaves thicken,
an abnormal quantity of cellulose is formed,
they become watery and at last fall off.
These feshy leaves have been found to be
full of starch grains, from which it seems
as if the transfer of starch from the
foliage to the growing parts and seeds
CT plants was impossible in the
absence of chlorine or some of It's COM
pounds.
In the absence of iron the leaves
and foliage of plants lose their green
coler and turn yellowish and sometimes
almost white. Ii now small amount of
a solution OF iron be added to the soil, the
leaves regain their natural color and func-
tions in very short time. The green
coloring matter OF the leaves, known as
chlcrophyl, is a carbohydrate, whose
function seems to be to assist in the assimi-
lation and organization of plant food. In
the absence of chlorophyl the leaf has no
power to decompose the carbonic acid of
the atmosphere and to assimilate its car
bon, which is so essential to the building
up of the vegetable tissues and organisms.
Such being the case, there can be no proper
growth of the plant at the expense of the
atmospheric air, unless the foliage be sup
piled with chlorophyl. By microscopic
the presence OF iron is necessary to the
formation of chlorophyl, and that in the
absence of iron the chlorophyl of the proto-
plasm of the leaf remains an almost color
less mass, seemingly destitute of any or
ganism. The sprouts which are sent out
by potatoes in cellar or in large heaps are
destitute of color, and have not the power
of assimilating atmospheric carbon. Hence
the shoots which are developed from the
supply OF organized matter contained in
the potato, and which has no power
OF assimilation, must of necessity cease
to grow az soon as
THE SUPPLY OF FOOD
In the parent is exhausted. Il is evident
that the seeming growth is only transfer
of already organized matter, and that
10 -, oI,,La 10
such conditions. We thus see that iron
acts as sort OF tonic on vegetable growth !;
it increases the vitality of the plant, and
permits and helps in the assimilation of
unorganizsd extraneous matter. These
ash Ingredients, the functions of some of
which we have endeavored to point out,
and others, the exact functions of which
are not well authenticated or understood,
are not simply deposited in particular
part of the plant to form q permanent
growth, but instead, many OF them suffer
translocation during the different stages OF
plaut development. It is probable that
during the latter stages of plant
life the growth of the stem and
its members takes place to consider
able extent at the expense of the roots
1t is well-known fact that plants, and
the grains in particular, when cut before
maturity, will, ii sufficiently developed,
and not too quickly dried, ripen at the ex-
pense of matter contained in the stem. A
few words might be said here in favor of
reaping grain. By that process of harvest
ing the roots are not drawn upon by the
last stages of growth, and the soil is bene-
flied by the amount saved to the roots
The grain is cut while in the dough, and
sometimes even sooner, and while the stalk
is yet to considerable extent tender and
succulent. The grain ripens at the ex-
pense of the stalk, but even after it has
drawn supply of substance from the
straw. it still leaves it
MUCH MORE VALUABLE
For cattle food than if the straw had
ripened on the roots. In this process of
ripening the albuuinoids, and it is thought
the amyloids, pass from the leaves through
the stem up into the seed. Phosphoric
acid undergoes much the same transloca-
ton. Magneaia IS transferred from the
lower stem upwards and into the seed. 1t
is thought that sulphuric acid is formed in
the upper part OF the plant by the oxidiza-
ton Of sulphur or some of its compounds.
Potash seems to suffer no transfer, except
possibly from the seed during the time OF
ripening, into the stem, probably giving
place to magnesia. Silica and chlorine, as
far as known, remain stationary at the
place where first deposited or fixed.
We have now had very brief sketch Of
the principal OF the ash ingredients, with
their more common properties and func-
tons as far as known. The study of the
ash is one which it is impossible to pursue
to any degree of perfection without much
application, and tables too numerous to be
asserted here. 1t, however, is subject
which should be studied by every intelli-
gent farmer, inasmuch as it treats of the
matter which must be found in the soil,
and which, being non-volatile, can under
no circumstances be acquired from the
atmosphere. In the ash there is included
those elements and compounds which must
be applied artificiaily to soils, If it is de-
sired to maintain their fertility. En-
bracing as it does matter which is of
vital interest to the farmer, it is well
worthy of further study. A thorough
knowledge of the ash ingredients. and OF
their occurrence, will prepare one to I'M
derstand the utility and application OF
manures and fertilizers. We will have 9
little more to do with these substances
upon treating OF soils. To the reader who