The National tribune., 1883-10-11
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
FOOD OF PLANTS.

FOOD OF PLANTS.
The amount of matter extracted from the air
by plants, and which is directly assimilated by
them, is not, we think, sufficiently recognized.
1t iswell known by chemists that from ninety to
ninety-five per cent. of the entire matter of
plants is taken directly from the air. The ash
ingredients of plants represent the matter ex-
tracted from the soil; this is made up of inor-
ganic ingredients not found IN the atmospheric
air. and could not, therefore, be derived from the
air. On the other hand, the combustible part of
plants is made up of the elements which are
always present in the air. For instance, the
myloids-Starch, sugar, ete.-are composed of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen or they may be
said to have been made from earbonic acid and
water. These primitive compounds are always
present in considerable quantities In the air
which surrounds plants. Woody fiber, like
wise, consists of the same elements put together
in a somewhat different form, and the same
may be said of gum. In every 100 pounds of
wheat there is about pounds of ash ingredi-
ents; In 100 pounds of Indian corn there
is about II pounds of ash; in every 100
pounds Of air-dried carrots there is about 81
pounds of ash, and in every 100 pounds
of potatoes there is nearly pounds OF
ash ingredients These ash ingredients are
mainly composed of phosphoric acid, potash,
magnesia, lime, soda etc, and although the
percentage of these seem small, yet in crop
of potatoes of 10000 pounds to the acre, 75C
pounds has been taken from the soil. and
1920 pounds from the air; the ingredients, in
this case, taken from the soil being largely in
potash and phOsphOric acid.
But although all plants may present q SINH
larity in the ingredients of their ash, yet they
are in very different proportions. For instance
100 pounds Of carrots contains $50 pounds OF
lime, 1852 pounds of potash, and 1.34 of phos-
phOricacid. One hundred pounds ofshelled corn
will give .62 of pound of phosphOTic acid IS oil
a pound of potash, and "a of "a pound of magne-
sia. On this is based the reason why rota-
tion of crops IS found beneficial, since it viii
be seen that soil unable to bring good croI
of carrots might bring good crop Of Indian
corn. 1t also points significantly to the ne
cessity of frequent culture and stirring up Of
| the SOIL as well as that of having it in physi
cal condition to afford free access for the at
mOspherie gases TO reach the roots of plants
| This further shows that draining wet lands is
preliminary TO the egress of air; when they
are filed with water air cannot find admission
Air is also necessary for the decomposition anG
preparation Of the inorganic ingredients of tht
soil to fit them for plant assimilation. Sol
analysis will often show sufieiency of the
inorganic food of plants, but the soil may bG
unpreduetive because these ingredients arC
not in a sufficiently soluble state to be avail
able TO the roots of plants; and this is one o
the instances where soil analysis cannot hell
the farmer. Therefore it is that the mechani
cal division and physical qualities of soils ar,
of first Importance and consideration, and art
even of more real value than knowledge o
| their chemical constitution.
FALL FLOWING.
/ We recently saw astatement that fall plowini
| is less commonly praetieed as the country grow
| older, and the vegetable matter in the soil
| becoming exhausted This is not in accord
ance, we think. with facts Twenty years ag
it was rare to see ploWing in the fall; now
| is becoming quite common and yearly increas
/ ing. 1t is always more beneficial to strong
! heavy and elayey soils than it is on light sand
| lands. Turning up clay lands in fall, so tina
the surface may be acted upon by winter frost:
| is certainly the most effective method to pro
cure a fine seed bed in spring. Freezing ant
| thawing viii pulverize the surface to degre
| that cannot be attained by mechanical means
| Everything, however, depends upon selecting
/ the proper time to work such lands in spring
| If they are worked when wet very much of tn
| value of fall plowing will be lost, but not all
| the exposure to the decompoSing Influences
| air and moisture viii prepare large quantit
| of plant food which would otherwise renal
| inert. Soils cannot remain profitable If tn
| vegetable or organic matter Is allowed TO be
come exhausted We think that the main OF
!
| supply of vegetable matter. 1t Is from th
recognition of this fact that we constantly Sc
| the advice about plowiug under clover an
other green crops; also the growing of root
and other kinds of winter food for cattle, 5
that while the crops bring good return in tn
| beef and mutton products, q large quantity c
| manure is made 10 supply organic matters
the soil. This will also be one of the indireC
| advantages from the preservation Of green foo
stock can be raised aud fed, and the manu1
saved and applied to the soil, just as 1t ha
| proved in European countries, where bet
| sugar is proftably manufactured, the refus
beet pulp being fed TO cattle; more cattle al
| raised and fed, more manure is made, and th
productive capacity of the lands have graduali
increased.
VEGETABLES FOR DIET.
It is said to be a fact that human beings car
not exist in a state of health on animal foo
exclusively for any great length Of time. Veg
tables are necessary TO prevent certain disease
and TO remove those diseases when they have II
vaded the system. 1t is also said that veget;
bles can be used as an exclusive diet and Y,
maintain the body in a state of perfect healtl
Herodotus implicitly attributes the activity an
| healthiness of the Persians of his time TO th
variety and abundance of fruit and vegetable
which they consumed. They had at meals nj
only several dishes, but several courses
vegetable food preceding a very moderate a
lowance of solid meat. Chambers says: "
feel sure that the puniness, infertilty, pallO
fetid breath and bad teeth which distiuguiS
some of our town populations is to great e,
tent due to their inability to get good suppl
of fresh vegetables and fruits" An old En-:
lish doctor reports that he has never been SUI
cessful in the treatment of gout except IN cas-
in which he required total abstinence fro
animal food as well as from wine.
In some parts of Europe the country lahore
and farm hands exist almost exclusively on
vegetable diet and milk. On this diet the
perform arduous labor but are rugged, stror
and healthy. The time viii come when frui
will be considered more as articles of diet tha
they are at present. 1t is held that IN war
countries animal food should be sparingly use
and fresh vegetables and ripe fruits form Il
principal articles of food.
MANUFACTURING BUHACH.
Buhach is the name given to the Pyrethru
powder produced IN California, which is four
so efficient i'll the destruction of insects. III
mode of preparing this powder is described
under, in the Pacific Rltrai Press The driC
blossoms are fed TO a run of burr miilSton
just as grain is handled in four-making by q
old process. The grist is carried by an elevate
to very nicely planned separator, in whic
| by proper sieyes, the shreds of stems are throw