20 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [306] 



phur is successfully used in destroying fungi on both veg- 

 etable and animal life. 



It exists in small quantities in both animal and vegeta- 

 ble structure, in combination with oxygen, as sulphuric 

 acid. 



Sulphunc Acid, the most important of all acids, is a com- 

 bination of sulphur and oxygen. It is known as oil of 

 vitriol, and its salts as vitriols. Sulphate of copper is 

 known as blue vitriol, or blue-stone, which is used in solu- 

 tion to destroy the germs of the fungus which produces 

 the smut in wheat. With iron, it forms sulphate of iron, 

 known as green vitriol, or copperas, which is frequently 

 used both as a preventive and remedy for disease in ani- 

 mals and fowls. It destroys fungi and animal parasites, 

 and acts as a tonic by furnishing iron to the system. 



Sulphuric acid is used very extensively in the arts and 

 manufactures. Since Liebig discovered the solvent power 

 of this acid on bone phosphate of lime, it has been, and 

 is still, used very extensively to render the phosphoric acid 

 contained in bone or mineral phosphate available as plant- 

 food. 



With lime, it forms sulphate of lime, or gypsum, which 

 is also known in commerce as land plaster. 



This salt is extensively used in agriculture, super- 

 phosphates containing from 40 to 50 per cent. , as a re- 

 sult of the union of lime with the sulphuric acid used as 

 a solvent. Sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts), sulphate 

 of soda (Glauber salts), sulphate of ammonia and sulphate 

 of potash, are some of the most important salts of sulphu- 

 ric acid. 



It is found in small quantities in soils, animals and plants, 

 being the only form in which sulphur can be taken up by 

 the latter. It is supposed to act as a decomposing agent 

 in the soil, rendering other substances available as plant- 

 food, as well as supplying it directly. 



Phosphorus is a soft solid, which, when freshly cut, has a. 



