West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-12
Fertility OF Soils.

. w hiic IL - lIut lUaI inc vigorous
growth of vegetation depends largely
ON the condition and composition of
the soil from which it grows. vet the
soil contributes but small per cent. of
the material used i'm that growth. If
we take plant and carefully burn it,
the ash which remains will represent
the material drawn from the soil, and
this Is seldom more than three or four
per cent, and often less than one. The
great mass of material used i'm yepeta-
bic growth is derived from the air by
the leaf machinery. If vegetable mat
ter be exposed to high heat in excu-
sion from the air, mass of charcoal
Will remain which is nearly pure car
bon. This is derived from carbonic acid
gas carbon do oxide), which is always
mixed with the atmosphere to greater
or less extent. This is absorbed bv the
leaf and deCompoSed i'm its cell struct
IRE by the joint action of the life force
in the plant and the suns rays. The
oxygen is given back To the air, and
the carbon is appropriated to the pro-
duction OF gum starch, sugar and woody
nper, for all these are composed of car
bon and the elements of water.
But before Il particle of this carbon
can be organized and built into a veg
substance containing nitrogen, which
is derived from ammonia or nitric acid
In vegetable composition this substance
takes the form of gluten albumen. or
case'ne, familiarly known as that which
gives adhesivencss to wheat dough, or
as seen in the white of an ego, or i'm
cheese. Now, nitrogen is literally dis
trlbuted in nature. 1t forms four-ifths
OF the atmosphere, and is, to n limited
extent, found in all organic bodies.
whether animal or vegetable. But i'm
its simple, uncombined condition, as il
exists in the air, it can not be appropri-
ated by growing vegetation, and il has
a wonderful aversion TO entering into
chemical combinations I'm the decom.
position Of animal and vegetable sub
stances the nitrogen takes the form of
ammonia and passes into air rs a oas.
or is dissolved i'm water. The strong
odor given off from pile Of fresh stable
manure gives evidence of the liberal
contribution of ammonia it is making
TO the air. But though thi3 has escaped
from its rightful owner through his
carelessncss, yet it is not lost. II floats
in the air, ready TO be- washed out bv
the first shower that falls, or to be alb
sorbed by the first mellow soil il comes
in contact with
But though these two elements of fer
tiilty may be abundant and i'm an anvil.
able torn, yet if the small per cont
contributed by the soil and represented
by the ashes remaining after combus
ton be absent, there can be no perfect
growth. This mineral, or earthly mat
ter. consists chiefly of lime. potash.
soda, silica, phosphorus and sulphur
Except the two last named, these are
compounds Of oxygen with a simple ole
ment; aud these last named form as,ds
by combining with oxygen. Now. all
these elements Of plant food must he
soluble in water, or exist as q gaA. i'm
order TO be available as plant food; and.
OF course, water must be supplied touct
- solvent and TO carry the material
to the various parts Of the plant VIII ,re
il is TO be used.
But this formidable array OF materials
~ plant growth is not all to be taxed To-
the farmer. The carbonic acid and wa
ter are supplied from the atmosphere,
with but little care on his part and the
mineral elements exist already i'm the
soil IN y pretty generous supply nm thi,
country though they arc not always ir
an available form. and may be exhausted
by constant cropping. Our soils, under
steady cultivation, will need q supply on
potash and phosphorus, which may be
furnished by the use Of wood-ashcs. or
German potash and bonemeal. Avail
able nitrogen IN the form Of ammonia
or nitric acid is largely supplied from
the atmosphere either 10y rain water or
from absorption by % porous soil abound .
ing In absorbent material
Sir j. r. Lawes. by n careful exam. .
lnation of the rain water that fell ri
Rothams,ed In 1882, asccrlaincd that i'm .
that year bis fields had received. i'm the /.
form Of ammonia by rain-watcr. ~
pound, OF ammonia per acre and /
nearly tho Same amount in the form Of /
nitro acid " we add 90 this e variable /
and unc riain amount absorbed directly /
from ihc air, we will have five or sis /.
pounds Of nitrogen, derived from tho /.
ar alone, on each acre Of SOIL and n q
form available for the use OF crou-.
J. his explains thc effect Of high cultiva- /
ton ON Tho fertility Of n soil. n vcQe. /
table loan. containing u large amount I
OF carbon from the decay Of organic /.
matter bo made very fine, it win ab- /
sorb from the air enough ammonia 10 /
supply the fullest demands Of growing /
crops. 10 the mineral elements be in /
proper proportion. -IHdta1q Farmer |