The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-01-12
HOW THEPLANTS GROW.
ARE ABLE TO TAKE FOOD ONLY
IN MINERAL FORM.

The Difference Between the Growth of
Animals and Plants 10 Plainly De-
scribed-The Plant Possesses Very
Limited Powers of, Assimilation.
The Epitomist gives very good
description of the methods of plant
growth SO far as they are understood.
The difference between the growth of
animals and plants is plainly de-
scribed. The article is as follows:
Like all living things, plants grow
by the assimilation of food, plant food.
therefore, is the raw material from
which the growth OF new substance
is produced, says the Epitomist. The
only difference between animals and
plants in this respect lies in the fact
than animal organs are able to take
food in the form OF organic matter,
which has existed in animals or plants
Plants, on the other hand, are able to
use only materials in mineral fern.
OF the many substances entering into
the composition of agricultural plants
all, except carbonic acid and water
come directly from the soil, through
the roots One other ingredient of all
plants, namely nitrogen, really comes
from the air, but 1t enters the plant
through the soil to which it is car
ried by the rain. Plants are composed
of both organic and inorganic mater
ials. Each eXerts indispensable influ-
~, 81 no
soil material or mineral matter, is the
means of changing air materials into
organic compounds. These compose
much the larger part of all vegetation.
In similar manner atmospheric plant
materials are indispensable to the
changing of soil substances into these
important organic materials. Each Isl
essential to the action of the other,
and is, therefore, necessary to plant
growth. There is an important differ
ence between plant food and mere ma
terial fed to plants. This difference is.
as definite with the plants as it is,
with animals. The animal feeder new
er forgets that only part Of the
substance fed to his animals is actu1
ally utilized Or enters the body as a.
part of the new growth made. Of the.
total material fed to animals, it is
known that only a part is digestiblgi
and has actual food value. The feed.
er has visible evidence that a considt
cradle part Of the material consumedS
by his stock is actually excreted, prov
ing that only a portion has been used
The plant possesses equally limited
power OF actual assimilation, though
is excretes 10 usused material. From
the entire material supplied to the
plant as a source Of food it is able I'd
take up and use but comparatively
small part. In ether words, of the
entire soil and air material FROM
which the plant draws its food, o.
from the material supplied as fertiliZeA
only a comparatively small part il
really consumed Only this small par
ever actually becomes part Of tho
plant itself. Only the part capable
Of being used is really plant food. Too
many farmers act on the suppositioA
that manure, phosphate, potash salts
ashes, nitrate of soda and other formN
Of fertilizers, are plant food; and THAI
the mass of material thus placed at thf
disposal of the crop is guide to thu
real fertilizing or food value Of the an
ticle. Of each Of these material
only comparatively small part is eve
really used by the crop. Phosphate
supplies only phosphoric acid. In likl
manner potash salt supplies actual
potash; nitrate Of soda contains nitro
gen; the real plant food in each cas-
is only a part Or ingredient of thes
materials supplied. The remainder o
these substances is simply present a
a necessary medium, or conveyOr, tt
make the real plant food economical
convenient for handling, or in somN
way make the substance required b.
the plant more practically availabla
Plant growth takes place by the &C
tual formation of new material. Thih
new material is made from the plan
food of the soil and atmosphere, witt
in the plant itself. The real plant foo
actually becomes part of the PLAN
itself. The other constituents Of tai
soil, air and fertilizing materials arr
simply rejected by the plant. Thes4
are as distinctly not available fof
plant growth as is the case with AMI
mails in respect to the material e1
creted by them. The new material o.
growth of plants consists of two d.
ferent classes of substances, ORGANIC
and inorganic, that is animal or veg4
table material and mineral matter. N
organic matter, as such, is real plart
food; it is simply source Of planf
food. Manure, blood and cottOnseek
meal. all organic materials, must b4
come decomposed and changed int
mineral matter. Wood in like ma
rer is first reduced to ashes before a.
tual plant food, always in the form
mineral matter. It's own life work,
function, is to convert this mineN
matter into organic forms. Phosphot
ic acid, potash and nitrogen enter tn
plant in solution through the roots
Carbonic acid enters through tn
leaves. In the leaves combinin