The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-03-20
THOSE SCIRNFIC TERMS.


reports Of experiment stations, ETC.,
etc. For the bene fl of this reader and
others holding the same views, we give
the Il flowing explanation Cf scientific
terms used in treating of fertilizers,
1000, etc. Our correspondent will do
we'll to preserve this copy OF the paper
or clip this article for his scrap book
TERMS USED IN DISCUSSING FERTILIZERS
Complete" tertl Ter is one which
contains the three essential ferGilizir z
constituents, j. g, nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and po ash.
Nitrogen" in fertilizers is in three
0lstInct forms, VIZ, es organic matter,
as ammonia, and as pitrates. It is the
most expensive tertilizug ingredient
''NlGrates" furnish the most readily
available forms of nitrogen. The most
common are nitrate Of soda and nitrate
OF potash (saltpeter)
NltrI6catlon" is process by which
the highly available Ii rates are formed
from the less active nitrogen otorganic
matter, smmonia, salt, etc. 1t is due
to the action Of minute microzc pic or
ganIsms.
"Phosphoric acid, one OF the essential
fertll2z ng ingre dents, is derived from
materials called phosphates. 1t does
not exist alone, but IN combination,
mCst commonly as phospbate Of lime
IN the form of bones, rock phosp hate,
and phosphate Stag PhoepnorIc ecId
occurs in fertihz oEs in three forms
soluble, reverted, au insolu6le.
'S0perpaosphate." y Il natural or I'm
treated phosphate the phosphoric acid
is insolu0le in water and not readily
available to plants. Suparphoephate
is prepared from these by grin ding
and treating with su!pauric aeit, which
makes the phosphorlc acid more avail
able to plants. Superphcsphates are
sometimes called acid phosphates.
Potash, "As a constituent Of fertilizers,
exists in a number OF forms. but chie f.
as chlorid or muriate and as sulphate.
All forms are freely, if not qnjte q Tally
available, but it has been found that
the chlorides may irjuriously affect
quality of tobacco. potatoes, and GER
tain other crops. The chief sources of
potash are the potash salts from Stass
furt, Germany-kainit, sylvinit, mUEi-
ate of potash, sulphate of potash, and
sulphate Of potash and magnesis.
Wood ashes and cotton hull ashes are
also sources of potash.
TERMS USED IN DI CUssING FOODS AND
FEEDING STUFFS
"Water" ie contained in all foods and
feeding stuffs. The amount varies
from to Is pounds per 100 pounds of
such dry materials as hay, straw or
grain, to 80 pounds in silage and 80
pounds in some roots,
DRY matter" is the portion remain
ing after removing or excluding the
water.
Ash" is what is left when the com
bus'ible part Of a feeding stuff is burned
away. 1t consists Chiefly Of lime,
magnesia, potash, soda, iron, c1loriu,
ard carbonic, sulp7uric, and phos'
phoric acid, and is used largely in
making bores. Part OF the ash con
stltuents of che food is stored up in the
ANIMALS body the rest is welded in the
urine and manure.
Protein" (nitrogenous matter) is the
name of a group Of substances contain
ing nitrogen. Protein furnishes the
materials for the lean fish, blood, skin,
muscles, tendons, nerves, hair, horns,
wool, ceseIn of milk, stbumen Of eggs,
etc and is one of the most impor ant
constituents of feeding stUffs.
''Albumin0ids' ls the name given to
one of the most important groups of
substances classed together under the
general term protein. The albumen
{ he whitee) of eggs is a type Of albu
minoids.
carbohydrates" - The nitrogen-free
extract sn1 fiber are often classed to.
gether under the name Of carboby
drates. The carbohg drates form the
largest part of all vegetable foods
CheV are either stored up IS fat or
burned in the body to produce heat
and energy. The most common and
In D 1r5ant carbohy drates are sugar
ana starch.
F!oer, "sometimes called crude cellu
lose, is the framework Of plants, ano
Ia, as a rule, the most indigesubie con
sutuent of feeding stuffs. The coars'
folders, such as hay straw, contain a
much larger proportion of Rber than
The grains, oil cakes, etc,
Fat" or the materials dissolved from