The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-29


While il 10 true IhAf the vigorous
growth II vegetation depends largely
on the condition and composition IL
the soil from which L grows. vet .h.
soil contributes but . small per cssat uf
b material used Ia tha, growth IL
". take a plant aud carefully bsra il.
the ash which refrain. will represent
the material drawn ffotn the .,iI. and
this !. seldom NOR. than thrrs or four
per cent. and often less than one. Tho
great mass 81 material used In sssrta-
bic growth u derived from the n by
the leaf machinery II vegr,abl. mat
ter be- exposed tn n high heat in s1eiu-
SION from the air. a mass of charcoal
viii remain which Is nearly purv ear
bon. This j. derived from carhonsc add
gas carbon dio oNidsl, which /, always
mixed " th The atmosphere io a greater
or les extent. This l. absorbed hy ths
leaf and d-composed In is cell strict-
ure bs the joint action 81 the life force
In the plant aud the suns fay-. 1h.
oxygen u given lark to the air. AMI
the carbon j. appropriated To the pro-
dueiion OF gum starch. sugar anil wo-~iy
fiber. for all tl,ss. are composed % car
bon and the elements Of water.
But before n particl. IL thi. ca rbnn
can bo organized aud built into n veg.
eiable form. there must b. present q
substance containing nitrogen. which
- derived from ammonia or nitric as@i-
In vegetable composition hi. substance
takes the form OF gluten aibumsu. of
case ne. fsmiliarly known a that which
gives adhesivcns.s IL wh.st dough. ov
n seen Ia the white of an sgg. 80 in
cheese. Now. Nitrogen IL literally dis
tributed In nature. IL forms four Gfihs
of the atmosphere. AMI IL. Ia a linn ted
extent. found in all organic bodies.
whether animal or vegetable Bus in
is simple. upconbined condition, a. /,
exssts In tie air. IL can not h~ a%pproprt-
ste,i by growing vegetation. anil IL has
n wonderful aversion - entering into
chemical comb nations. In the dec.Hm
position OF animal an vegetable sub
stance. The Nitrogen takes the form ID
ammonia AMI passes INTO air a. n "a.
or j. Dissolved in water Tb. strong
odor given OF from a pile 81 fresh ~staiii.-
manur. gives evidence Of the literal
Contribution 81 ammonia q IL making
o. the air. But though ihll has escaped
from is rightful owner Through "a.
carelcssncsy. Vet Il l. uo; iost. IL HDats
In the air. ready to be- washed ou; by
the first shower that falls. or TO De- alb
sorlcd by the hrs; mellow coil IL cons1s
in contact with.
Bat ihough these iwo elements a fer
,ility NAV DO abundant and IN an avail
able TORN. yet IL the small per- cent.
contributed by the soil AMI rcpr.s2S
By the ashes remaining after oasnbas-
ton be Absent. there can be- no perfect
growth. This mineral. 81 earthly mat
Ter. consists chieiy Il lime. potash,
soda. silica. phosphorus and sulphur.
Except the two last named. these nrs
compounds If Oxygen with = simple sis-
mcnt: and these last named form acids
by comb ming with oxygen Now. al
these elements Of plan, food must Us
soluble in water. OF Est ~ y gas. in
order 70 h~ asailahls A. plant ford and.
OF course. water must b. supplied - at
as n solvent and To carry the material
TO the ysyioas parts Of the plant shsr,
IL is to be u%sd-
But this formidable array - materials
of pant growth - not ali to b taxed to
the farmer. The ca-bonsc acid and a.
ter are supplied from the ,smospher..
with but little care on his par. and Tho
mineral elements exis; already ia tho
soil in \ pretty generous supply in ihIs
country. though tney are nos always in
an zvailsble form. and may beerhzasssd
BY constant cropping. Our sosk. under
steady cultivation. will need \ supply II
potash aud phosphorus. which may bs
furnished By the use ~ WOODLANDS. OF
German potash sna bonernsaL Avail
able nitr1gvn IN the form of ammonia
or nitric acid . largely supplied from
The atmosphere sIshsr " rain water or
from absorption ~ \ porous sol abound.
ing in absorbent material
SIR j. r. Laxe-. by . careful cram
ina;ion Of ttss rain water that sslI n
Roshams.ed N ise2. ascrrtazned thsf in
that year his seids bad received. in thu
form Of nnnoniA BY nin-wstey. 1T
pounds Il ammonia per acre. and)
Dearly lie Sane amount in the form a
nitric aad IL we add "a this . variable
and uRrrtain amount ahsosAed directly
from tbs AIR. Nc viii hare hve OF six
poaDts of 1strogeo. derived fro0 the
air alone. On each acre of soil. and ia .
sorm available for the use a crops.
This explains the eject of high cultiva-
ton On tAs fertility ot . sol. II . vexc-
table loan- containing . hrEs amount
d carbon from The Decay a orxasio
aAfsss. Be made very sne. b viii q.
sorb from The mir esouxh ammonia In
uppiy IL fullest demands a growing
adpA = ths 1insraI eboments b q
pl9 ~pssPesdoA-ksd5sss Earnn.