Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-05-02
CLOTHlER!
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fertilizer, that we are called upon to tfea
in this paper. The rock undergoes thu
simple process Of grinding by means o
burr stones, and it is PROPER here to re
: mark that upon the fineness of the article
thus produced its successful use largely
depends. To its solubility in water alone
must be ascribed its value as Il manure
and when it is mentioned that in order te
it's perfect dissolying 461 parts of waite,
to one OF gypsum are required. Che neces-
sity of perfect grinding must be at once
apparent. Chemists have advanced a
great variety OF opinions regarding the
action of gypsum upon the crops, and ]
quote a few of them for the information
of the association. According to Kohl
ner the action of gypsum depends upon
the power possessed by lime to form with
the oxygen and carbon of the atmosphere,
compounds which are favorable to vege-
tation. Ruckert thinks it acts like any
other food. Mayer and Brum say it
merely improves the physical properties
of the soil. Hedwig calls gypsum the
saliva and gastric JUICE of plants.
Humphrey Davey regarded it as an
essential constituent Of plants, because it
acts only where gypsum is wanting in the
soil. Liebig says it fixes the ammonia
of the atmosphere. johnson says that if
the land be deficient in lime the gypsum
will act, not only by virtue of the sui
phuric acid but of the lime which it con-
tains. Bell says it acts in two ways,
first, by supplying sulphuric acid or sui
phur and lime in soluble state. Sec
end, by absorbing ammonia and making
a double compound with some alkaline
salts
"Upon what kind of soil will gypsum
show the best results? The answer must
come: Upon land which is deficient in
lime Clay soils have an abundance of
lime and upon them gypsum shows the
minimum result because the lime which
it contains is not required. Neither is
the moisture which the sulphuric acid
attracts required when the plant is max
ing its strongest growth. The conclu-
sion then is that the soils which are de-
ficient in lime will show the best effects
from the use of plaster. It is we'll always
to remember that land plaster only fur
nishes two constituents of plant food,
viz, sulphur and lime. Its action in at
tracing moisture can be comprehended
in some measure when we think of the
rapidity with which sulphuric acid left
standing in an uncorked bottle will alb
sorb moisture. You will notice that
after a few days the quantity in the bot
tie will have increased. Along with this
moisture the acid has absorbed ammonia,
which permeates the atmosphere, and
thus indirectly the plant is furnished
with that most powerful of stimulants
which promotes its growth, the water
working conformity with the ammonia,
conveying it to the roots and producing
that freshness and greenness which is so
strikingly an evidence of the healthful
condition Of a crop.
The next point to consideration is
what plants derive benefit from land
plaster?' As plant food one would
suppose that it could only furnish
directly those elements which it contains,
viz, sulphur and lime. Indirectly, of
course, it absorbs ammonia, which is a
stimulant. Chemistry tells us that red
clover contains very large proportion
of sulphuric acid and lime, and therefore
we find by practical experience that red
clover is the most benefcially affected of
all plants. White clover contains an ex-
cess of potash, and again actual exper-
fence proves sulphate of potash produces
the best effect upon that plant But
what chemical action takes place which
produces this result on red clover? Here
we reach into the domain of science and
tread upon dangerous ground. How
ever the explanation given is that car
Donate Of ammonia and sulphate of lime
cannot be brought together at common
temperature without mutual decomposi-
ton. The ammonia enters into combina-
ton with the sulphnric acid, and the car
bonic acid with the lime, forming COM
pounds that are not volatile, and which
are retained in condition seryiceable to
manure. 1t does not supply any actual
deficiency, but acting as sulphate or
vegetable mould makes that available
which already exists It seems, then,
that gypsum has two-fold functions. II
acts, as stated, as nutriment to certain
plants, and directly by fixing the am
fnonia contained in the atmosphere, and
in rain, dew and snow it furnishes slim
ulant We advise those who use plaster
in clover culture to SOW 100 pounds per
acre as soon as the ground will carry,
and second 100 pounds as soon as the
plant is well headed out. We know that
farmers are ayerse.t to this double labor,
and particularly many Of our young lat
ter day farmers who have no love for
the operation Of plaster sowing. But, ID
any case plaster should be sown at suf-
ficientiy early date to catch the spring
rains. Disapp ointment too often results
from delay, especially when dry weather
comes on and Che plaster Is not dissolved. 81 81