The Iola register., 1891-02-13
Mechanical influence in yeretation.

Vegetation is defined to be, THAT act
or process of vegetating or growing, as
plant; vegetable growth" For our
purpose, it will be considered as mean
ing that constant accretiOn of vegetable
matter which builds up plant-as from
the tiny sprOut of an acorn's germ to
the giant proportions of old forests
mighty monarchs. These accretions of
vegetable matter are an infinite number
of iniinitesmally small molecules, con-
sisting principally of atoms of carbon.
hydrogen, nitrogen. oxygen, etc, and
some potassium, sodium. silicon, phos-
phorus, etc. to give body and rigidity
TO the plant. combined in atomic pro-
portions, and which are called food ele-
ments of the plant. Chemical affinity
produces of the molecules, and locates
each in its proper place to increase the
growth of the plant; but chemical af-
finity cannot take place, and will. there
fore, be o. no avail till the plants food
elements are brought together III a
susceptible condition, ready for chemi-
cal action. 1t is the mechanics of ma
ture that collect and bring these ele-
ments together, and | shall now call
attention to the store-houses from which
these elements are obtained, and point
out the various forces which transport
them to the points where the chemistry
of nature exercises its influence in the
growth of vegetation.
The four gaseous elements mentioned
above exists abundsntly in the atmos-
phere, and are continually waited by
natures winds to and fro over the swell
-, l,,,,1, a,,l 1x-,nnlt,,r
table growth. but as their prepOnder-
ance then is in the dry state, and since
chemical affinity is most energetic at
the disintegratiOn Of elements from
compounds of one kind to form, with
other elements on the instant of disin-
tegratiOn, compounds of different kind.
it is probably not directly from the airs
great store-house, with the wind as a
vehicle Of transportation, that any of
these elements are obtained. They
exist in the atmosphere, but are only
tangible when in the shape of water,
nitrous oxides, carbonic oxides, etc and
not preceptibly then, until washed down
to earth by the rains.
1t is from the bosom of mother earth
that plants draw their sustenance, and
in this way: Nitrates of sodium and
potassium and phosphates, and carbonic
and silicic acids being soluble, they are
dissolved and taken up by the rain
water as it falls upon and sinks into the
ground. This solution then comes in
contact with the roots of the tree, is
absorbed by them. and becomes what is
called sap" This sap is then carried
by capillary attraction, like oil on a
lamp wick, through the body of the
plant to the point of growth. where
chemical affinity takes place. This
sap. or water, which held the food ele-
ment in solution. having now perform
ed its office, and being of no further
service, gathers. up by resolution all
the rejected material, and passes on by
force of the same capillary attraction
into the evaporating surface of the leaf
and dispears into tFe air as vapor, to
be re-condensed, fall as rain, soak into
the earth, take up another solution OF
food element, and climb its way again
to the point where chemical affinity re-
lieves it of its freight to return in the
same way for another load. Thus, in
its full sweep, does the rain gather
food elements both from atmosphere
and earth and transport it upwards,
like hOd-carrier his brick and mortar
Ito the man above, who does all the
work." but the man above is Natures
mason, the delicate perfection of whose
handiwork Mortal man essays in vain
to imitate.-Prof. E. b. Bolton in The
Industrialist.