The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-12
FeTtaitztDg matter "a the Soil.
FPnSisffeIuhie Pres

4 correspondent WbO 10 lhteie-ted 10 TINS
tBhj- e., thin k IL proper thst more attention
sbot ld De given by the agricultural press to
The substances that are ceIlvtd from the soil
BY plants he is Inclined TO believe sulphur
q very in pCTl ant factor, being sq1Al IN value
IL lot superior, 10 ph1spbOTic acid.
sub bur exists in certain proportions 10
ell 81 il, bDt chemists have been unable t.
discover that il performs any important ser
vice Ms plsnt food, although " is Used by
plsnts to certain extent. The pO geftul acid
(elI Ct vitFioi) used in the decOm position o.
bpDes finds It's usefulness only by tskiog
The place of phOtphorie acid, which
1t GbsTRtes- Bones which avs IN
soluble ere Colnposed princi 2aly o.
phosphate Of Line phesphoric acid united
20 lime) ard he object sought in reducing
BOZ es - the phospbOric acid. The lime l.
bot OF little value 10 the operator, an1 the
sslpb uric acid toll Of vitrioll Is the agent fjr
GCpaTAiiIg he lime frOm the Phosph re
red. When the sulph1TiC acid is brO1gh1
in contact Ni1h bones i uCjt-s with tue
lime IN the ehape OF plaster e llphate OF
limtl and the phOsphOric &C q IS thus driven
fIt N IT'S corn biosiiOn anu set free. Ia thi
cree siste IL il soluble in watsr, but rapidly
Bbites win any other substance in the soil,
sreh IS pOash, soda. or even lime, but 10
fhis stste tits in the condition of a very G1s
i'm, slpsble powder, and in some cases not
- readily soluble.
There is TO necessity ior applying sulphur
10 plants By means II the use Of suOefp11s-
pbaie, for pbur would be an expen i've
luxury in that shape. The cheaper mole
vonid be 20 use ordinary land pi<steE. bat,
rs uiphnr is never applied 10 sDils with a
view OF using u for fsrtllIzing purposes, il ~
of no consequence as an ingredient il fertil
I&eTs The principal substances desired oy
ali sOils that are cropped are nitrogen {whicl
10 the most cOsay), potash WHOA may be
applied IN the iVrm of wood ashes Or in
csmb.nat on a. sal'l and phosphociC
scid t~hieh is procured By reducing
bODes with the odd Of sal phuTio acid, or from
The Carolina phosphate rock Oaro0n Is also
largely used by plants, bat this is derived
rem the atmosphere, through the agency of
the leaves, though many careful expert
nnsDters affirm lhst ii enters into the plants
through their roots Silica IS another SUB
stance that is always present In sOils. 10 an
insoluble state, but IL is an important ele
nent Of plant food. No dOnbt the potash
seriously affects silica wnen brought in ON
fsot with is, which results in enabling the
pfsats. through some unknown action Ct the
roots, TO appropriate IT for food.
The soil may be deficient in one sub
stspee and ab0unding in another. Il NAV
be considered rich when sown to certain
cop and be 90 poor for another. A
knowledge Of this fact has enabled chemists
10 fOImUlsle special fertilizers for peculiar
solls and particular crops, which enables
farmers 20 &c jaomizs in purchasing by
aV~idirg the ass OF Substances Iat exist in
the soil, the saving IN such purchases being
spphed To procuring that which il eeficleaE
30 two plants derive the same proportions
Of food from the soil, nor do any two va,ie
ties feed on exactly the same kind of Eertil
King material. For instance, clover pre-
fefs a liberal supply OF potash and Gm-,
while the cereals do better with phosDh0nc
acid and Nitrogen.
The inqairy OF orr correspondent is =
very pertinent one, a1d it would be % tn
interests OF farmers "a a class ii they @cOii
thus interest themselves in the NJ alter o.
properly feeding the plants and Of tbs ina
tsTials that exist in the III.