154 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



f 



Dec. 8, 182G. 



of effectintr this decomposition ; for the attraction and have ascribed but little intluonce to the first ; when oeficient it languislics, ano debility and 

 between the constituent principles of gypsum is '■ hence, if arg-uments v.hich have been advanced to ease may be the consequence either of too st 

 cxceedincrlv strung, and although potash, which is disprove the correctness of these hypotheses, be or too feeble action. Exercise also .s probi 

 either centameu in, or is formed during the com- alloacd to be just, when considered separately, equally necessary to the vegetable as to the 

 bustion and perhaps the spontaneous dissolution of thev must have nearly equal weight when united. | mal system. Whence it appears that there exj 

 veffetables is able to abstract the sulphuric acid : Xs the modes of action assigned to gypsum ap- 1 an intimate relation of properties between the < 

 from the lime, yet is only when the alkali exists ' pear to be inadequate to the explanation of the j great classes of organi'.ed beings, and that pr, 

 in excess, and its affinity for the acid is rendered facts 'hitherto observed, we must look farther, and bly their functions may be continued by the op, 

 more effectual by quantity, by heat, and by being on considering this subject, it seems to me tp ac- 

 long boiled with this calcareous compound. So cord best with the supposition, thiit it operates on 

 far therefore we have no reason to believe that the root of vegetables as a stiuiulant. To render 

 sulphate of lime can have any effect in increasing this theory plain and intelligible, it will be neces- 

 the heat of common soils,or of a mixture of animal sary to premise that certain properties of life are 

 and vegetable matters, while undergoing the pro- I common both to the animal and the vegetable sys-jed, and when they are not excessive, the rej 

 - cess of decomposition. I tern. They both possess the poweWof absorbing,of w ould be a vigorous vegetation, and a more ti 



The last supposition, that gypsum may acceler- circulating, of secreting,and of converting foreign | Jovelopement of the organs. The met:ahc oxiJ 

 atethe putrefaction of the organi/.ed matter, with , matter into their own substance. All the phenom- ( ^r compounds of metals and oxygen, the meti 

 which it is mixed, by r..ffording something capable | ena of vegetation concur to prove that plants like salts, such as green vUriol, the ^ native Cdmpoi 

 of exciting or increasing the fermentative action, I animals enjoy a principle to which has been appli- ~ 

 is less probable. The species of fermentation, i ed the name of irritability, and which is simply the 

 which takes place in this instance,is that to which ' susceptibility to contraction on the application of 

 chemists have given the name of putrefactive. It stimuli. It is probably the property which is the 

 is the gradual reduction of organized substances first- developed and the last extinguished in all or- 

 into soil, in consequence of the operation of chem- ganized beings. Whether they also po.ssess sen- 

 ical laws, when not counteracted nor controuled sibility is a question which from our limited 

 by the principle of life. This action is spontane- knowledge of the functions of vegetables, we are 



ous, and to be produced requires merely a moder- unable satisfactorily to answer. There are some 



ate temperature, water, anfl contact with the air. facts which have induced a few vegetable physiolo- 



Thcre is no fact, with which I am acijuainttd, in gists to suppose that they do. If it be so, its phe- 



favour of the supposition, that gypsum, as a com- nomena are by no means so obvious as those re- 



pouud, can facilitate this process, nor is there any suiting from irritability, and even this principle is 



thing in its composition analogous to animal or not so apparent in the vegetable as in the animal 



vegetable matter which can undergo this kind of system, for in the latter it is developed every rao- 



Jecomposition. In the vinous a|id acetous fer- ' ment, while in the former it requires some study to 



mentations, we know that these pactions may be, be perceived. This difference in the two systeus 



and are, excited by the addition o^ yeast, or what is probably to be attributed to the greater rigidity 



some chemists have denominated ferment, a sub- j of parts in vegetables which of course are lejs 



stance which, if not the same witl, is at least very susceptible, and to an organization mucli mole 



similar in properties to vegetab.e gluten. The simple than that of animals by which they may be 



putrefactive fermentation may likewise be com- ' deprived of that consent or connexion between va- 



menced by the mixture with a substance already rious parts which has been called sympathy. Who- 



in that state. But as sulphate of lime is incapable ever is acquainted with the physiology of plants, 



of fermentation, as it can furnish nothing which cannot avoid remarking that " the propulsion of 



can produce it, and as, when mixed with the fer- the sap : the secretions whence new products are 



menting mass, it is found attae end of the process, formed ; the motions of their leaves ; tlieir sus- 



unchanged in any of its properties, we may safely ceptibility to the impressions of external agents, 



conclude that gypsum does not increase the ferlil- lieat, lin^ht, air, and moisture, and electricity ; their 



ity of soils by hastening tie decomposition of or- growth, and the formation of the embryo plant, 



ganic bodies. ' with similar powers, are phenomena inexplicable 



The only way we can conceive it to operate in on any principles of mechanism, and so strikingly 



this respect, is by depriving some of the vegetable analogous to those of the animal system that tliey 



productions of life, by whi:h the ordinary aflinities must be referred to the operation of a similar 



of chemistry may be brought into action, and thus principle ;" or a set of principles, one of which is 



the mass of decomposed matter or vegetable mould, irritability. The analogy between the properties 



and of course the quantity of nutriment, be indi- j of living animal and vegetable matter will appear 



rectly increased. But there are no facts I believe ' even more intimate when wo consider the circum- 



to prove, that plaster when mixed with soils even stances by which their growth and vigour are ac- 



in excess, possesses this positive power of destroy- j celerated and retarded and their condition is alter- 

 ing the life of plants, and this mode therefore of.ed. In the former the proper balance of actions 



explaining the action of gypsum, is entitled to no ' constituting health is preserved by the due regu- 1 ble, than one which has not been thus stimulated 



greater weight than those which we have before ; lation of food, of air, of exercise, and of tempera- 1 it will therefore be larger and more luxuriant 



tion of the same principles, modified by strucj 

 ud situation. 



Like animals then, vegetables may be 

 timulated than usual. The effect woukl be to 

 rease the natural actions of the parts thus ex 



of sulphur and iron, the neutral salts, such ai 

 tro, &c. and the liquid oxy-muriatic acid, 

 been proved to promote the germination of 

 and the growth of the plants. These substani 

 it hi'.s been supposed, operate by the oxyge 

 the base they afford for the direct nourishment 

 the vegetable. But I am inclined to believe Ihi 

 they produce their effects as compounds and i 

 stimulants, or if decomposed, that the use of 

 oxygen is rather to increase the action, th 

 rectly to augment the bulk of the plant ; fc 

 though oxygen may be obtained from most vi 

 tables, it lias been for the most part previoutl' 

 combined with hydrogen in the form of watc 

 which with more probability has been absorbedk' 

 the roots, than produced in the vessel.* of the pUti 

 Why then may not gypsum operate in the sail 

 way? There is certainly no great incongruitji; 

 the supposition, and it is no argument against-il 

 acting on this principle, that it is perfectly iaei 

 as it regards the irritability of the human systW. 

 It has neither taste nor odour, nor any pcrceplibl 

 stimulant action on the organs of touch ; but dot 

 it follow that it should therefore produce no effft 

 on the seeds or roots of vegetables ; Oxide i 

 manganese and litharge are inert to us, yet tk' 

 experiments of physiologists appear to prove tb 

 they are not so to plants. 



It may be supposed, that when the plaster o 

 Paris is applied to the seed, it stimulates the liltl' 

 root, the action of the vessels is thus increasec 

 absorption goes on more rapidly, and it acquilt; 

 more nourishment in a given time than in ordinar; 

 circumstances,the consequeuces are a quick growtl 

 and enlargement of organs. If the stimulant •(■ 

 feet be continued, the roots will become thiciei 

 than usual, they will spread to a greater distaact 

 from the centre, and perhaps penetrate deeper 

 into the ground ; hence in a given time, suchi 

 plant will absorb more fluids from the ground tc 

 be converted into sap, and to nourish the vegett- 



examined. But it may be said that although neith- i ture. If the food be moderately stimulant and nu 

 er of the circumstances above mentioned be suffi- tritious, if the air be pure, the exercise equable, 

 cient, singly, to account for the acknowledged ac- 1 and the temperature uniform and mild, the opera- 

 tion of this compound, yet that it may be dependent ; tions of the system are free and unembarrassed. — 

 upon and constituted by all of them: and there j If the influence of external agents be excessive, 

 fore may be ascribed partly to its opening the soil, 1 or if the system be deprived for a time of its ac- 

 partly to its facilitating the putrefactive process, ] customed stimuli, disease and even death may fol- 

 and in part to its attracting moisture from tlie air. 1 low. In the latter also the health of the plant is 

 The weight of this argument must depend on the j dependent on ihe degree of heal, and light appli- 

 degree of merit that has been attached to each of j ed, the quality of the air surrounding it, and the 

 the hypotheses. It has been seen that with regard j quantity of nutriment it derives from the soil. — 

 to the last, we have allowed nothing in their favor, i When excessive the plant is too iiighly stimulated; 



It may be thought that if gypsum operate at) 

 stimulant, it ought to produce the same effect, it 

 all cases, that is, it should act uniformly in all ait- 

 nations. But a slight view of the subject willbt 

 sufficient to convince us, that, as soils differ »s 

 much in nature as degrees of cohesion, some of 

 them may contain ingredients which are in them- 

 selves highly stimulant, while others may, with re- 

 gard to the vegetable fibre, be comparatively in- 

 ert and bland. The application of piaster, to 

 plants vegetating in soils of the former character, 

 would not be followed by any obvious advantage; 



