240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



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deficiency of any one essential, like phosphoric acid, lime or 

 potash, it could with equal safety be declared incompetent to 

 support a certain variety of vegetation. Analysis fails to deter- 

 mine the positive immediate fertility of a soil, as we cannot 

 determine how much material is in an assimilable condition. 

 Viewing the matter as I do, it is not often necessary to resort to 

 this expensive mode of inquiry. As will be shown, we can ferti- 

 lize understandingly by chemical aids which do not pertain to 

 the department of analysis. Chemistry not only unfolds the 

 precise nature of soils, but also, as we have seen, the substances 

 and principles which enter into plant structure. 



The relations between the two are such, we are certain, the 

 inorganic matter found in the latter must have existed in the 

 former. If there were no interfering agencies beyond our 

 guidance, the whole problem of vegetable growth would be 

 apparently the simple one of demand and supply, and this we 

 could control. 



It is an axiom which admits of no dispute or contradiction, 

 that all the plant consumes of a mineral character comes from 

 the soil. Let us consider for a moment the character of some 

 grains — ivheat, for example. 



If we make chemical examination of wheat, we find that what 

 we are able to rub off from the kernels, after moistening, with 

 a coarse towel, is made up of woody fibre, and differs but little 

 from the dry straw of the plant. The next wrapper, which is a 

 continuous one, contains the most important constituents of the 

 seed, holding the phosphate salts, and the nitrogenous ingredi- 

 ents. Here is stored up the little atoms of phosphate of lime, 

 magnesia, soda and potassa, which the microscopic mouths of 

 the root fibres have sucked from the soil in which it grew. The 

 office of the plant has been one simply of transference ; it has 

 transferred from the soil the earthy particles — lifted them from 

 their low estate, to the highest within its power to attain, — 

 placed them in position to meet the requirements of men and 

 animals. Now, can tho • plant grow, and the seeds mature, 

 unless the soil contains these salts ? It may grow, and even 

 luxuriantly ; but shrivelled and imperfect seeds, few in number, 

 will occupy the little pockets in the head, where under the 

 nourishing influence of a properly adjusted soil, the grains 



