The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-06
AGRICULTURE.

FERTILlzING MATTER IN THE SOIL.---
A correspondent, who is interested In
this subjeot, thinks it proper that moro
attention should be gwen by the agri-
cultural press to tho substances that are
derived from the soil by plants, He is
inclined to believe sulphur very impor-
tant factor, being equal in value, if not
superior, to phosphorlo acid.
Sulphur exists IN certain proportions
in all soils, but chemists have been I'm.
able to discover that it performs any
important service as plant food, although
it is used by plants to certain extent.
The powerful aoid (oil of vitrio) used in
the decomposition of bones finds its USE
fulness only by taking the place of
phospholic acid, which it liberates.
Bones which are insoluble arc composed
principally Of phosphate of lime (phos-
phoric acid united to lime), and the OBJ
Ject sought in reducing bones is tho
phosphorio acid. The lime is but of
little value to the operator, and the sui.
phuric acid (oil of v1trioD ls the agent
TOR separating the lime from tho phos-
phoric acld. When tho sulphuric acid
Is brought in contact with bones IT IN
ties with the lime Ill the shape OF plas-
ter (sulphate OF lime), and the phos-
phorlo acld Is thus driven from its COM
blnatlon and set free, In this free state
1t IL soluble III water, but readily unltes
with any other substance in the soil such
rs potash. soda, or even lime, but in this
state 1t Is Ill the condition of very fine
lmpalphble powder, and in somo cases
not 80 readily soluble.
There Is no necessity for applying
sulphur TO plants by means Of the use
OF superphobphate, for sulphur would
be all expens i've luxury in that shape.
The cheaper mode would be to use or.
dlnary land plaster, but, rs sulphur il
never applied to soils with view OF us
ing 1T for fertllizing purposes, it is Of
no consequence as Mn ingredient III fer
tilzers. The principal substances de-
sired by all soils that arc cropped are
nitrogen (Which is the msst costly. pot
ash (Which may be applied in tho fora
OF wood ashes, or in combination as a
salD, and phosphorio acid (Which is
procured by reducing bones with the
aid OF sulphuric acid, or from tho Caro-
lima phosphate rook). Carbon is also
largely used by plants, but this is do.
rived from the atmosphere, throu II the
agency of the leave, though many care
tul expellmenters affirm that it enters
into the plants through their roots also.
Silica Is another substance that is al
ways present III soils, in III insolublc
state. but 1T is al important element in
plant iood. No doubt the potash seri.
ously Affects silica when brought IN con.
tact with it, which results in enablinQ
the plants throupb aon,o n,,l,,,,,,,
actlon OF the roots, to appropriate it for
food.
lhe soil may bo deficient in one sub.
stance and abounding in another. II
may be considered rich when sown to a
certain crop and be too poor foranother.
"A knowledge of this fact has enabled
chemists to formulate special fcrtilizors
Tor peculiar soils and particular crops.
winch enables farmers to economize in
purchasing by avoiding the use OF sub
stances that exist i'll tho soil, the saving
ing In such purchases being applied to
procuring that which 10 deficient. No
Two plants derive tho samo proportions
OF food from the soil, nor do any two
var etles Iced on exactly the same kind
OF fertlllzlng material. For instance.
clovor prefers liberal supply cfpotash
and lime, while the cereals do better
WIN pilosphorlo acid and nitrogen.
Ihe inquiry Of our correspondent IL
very pertinent one, and il would DO to
tho interest OF farmers as n class il they
would thus interest themselves in the
matter OF properly feeding the plants
ana OF The materials that exist in the
soll