The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-10-30

solubillty. Here, then, we find sub
stance of the highest Importance as a
food for plants, passing through soil
five feet in depth. every year, in such
quantities as would, iftaken up by plants,
be sufficient to grow crops much exceed
ing those grown upon an average on he
soils OF the United States.
| Such are The results obtained on
soil without vegetation.
In our permanent wheat fields we
have ordinary drain pipes laid at three
feet from the surface, and whenever suf.
ficiently heavy rains occur for the drains
to run. the water is collected and anal
yled. Portions of this field received an
application Of salts Of ammonia, and 9TH
er portous nitrate of soda. Ii heav,
ial. OF rain takes place within day or
two OF the application Of these manure,
the drainage water from The plot which
received thr' i rate will contain large
amount nitrc acid, while the drain
age waite from the plot which received
salts OF aiununla will contain very little
ammonia or nitric acid. 1t may be
urged that the nitrate has not had time
to assimliate with the soil. This idea
will not, however, explain the fact
which [ am about to relate.
In few days the drainage water from
the soil which receives ammonia will
begin to yield large quantities of nitric
acid, and if the two manures are sowu
in the autumn with the wheat, and
there is sufficient rainfall during the
winter, by far the largest part of the
nitrogen applied in the ammonia aud
nitrate, will be found in the drainage
water. On the other hand, ifthe draiu
runs in the summer, when the wheat is
in full visor Of its growth, the water
contains no nitric acid whatever, though
at other times, even on those parts of the
field where no substance containing nj
trogen has been applied for forty years
nitric acid Is always to be found i'll the
drainage water
The only explanation that can be Civ
Gu OF these Results s that ammonia, on
Its frs appl, 'atlon, becomes fixed in the
soil, hut rapidly becomes converted INFO
nitric ac!d, which is perfectly SOLUBLE
in water, and forms no combination with
the sill.
A great deal of our time in late years
has been spent in tracing the Course OF
this substance through the soil and sub
soil, and in some Instances our analyses
have reached to he depth Of nine feet
from the strtace. Some Of our agricul-
turai plant, have very deep roots. and,
as plants evaporate an enormous amouni
os water during their growth. it is GER
ain that water, and salt dissolved in
the water, must be drawn up from below
the area OF the roots.
1t is fact about which there can be
10 doubt that while some important in
gradients ct the food OF plants are re
tanned by the sui with great tsnacty,
nthers are perfect y soluble and are on'y
fixed by the vegetation growing on the
surface. 1t is the plant, therefore, and
not the soil, which prevents the escape
of he soluble substance; and we see in
I is a beautiful explanation of the fac
that the operation of nature is always tn
cover the soil with vege All n OF some
kind, while man to ,upply himself wiki
food, grows annual plants, the result be-
ing that he snil is left bare of its nat
ural clothing for several months in the
year.
| have more than once pointed ont
| that the exhaustina character OF grain
crops is due not only to III; ingredients
which are removed in the crop, but also