M/ 



Fio. 4. 



AGRICDXTURE. - No. 3. 



In our previous iiumbprs we gave the Composition 

 OK Plants — the material of which they are formed. 

 Now, the common sense of all will teach them that 

 this material must be derived from some source. 

 Plants obtain their food partly from the air and partly 

 from the soil — they take it from the air by their 

 leaves, and from the soil by their roots. These roots 

 consist wholly, or in part, of small fibrils, or minute, 

 slender branches, as seen in fig- 

 ure 4. The delicate extreme- 

 ties of these fibrils arc called 

 spongioles ; and they are the 

 organs which, by the all-wise 

 provision of the Creator, absorb 

 from the soil just such food as is 

 necessary for the sustenance of 

 the plant. If this food is found 

 in sufficient quantity, tlie plant 

 Jiourishes, if not, it starves. 

 In the LEAVES are many small openings or mouths, 

 by which they suck in from the atmosphere what- 

 ever is needed for their growth. 



As plants are composed of two parts — the organic, 

 or that part which burns away, and the inorganic, 

 which is left after the plant is burned, — so they 

 require two kinds of food — organic food for the 

 organic part, and inorganic food for the inorganic 

 part. The organic food is obtained partly from the 

 air and partly from the soil ; the inorganic food 

 wholly from the soil. Plants obtain their food from 

 the air mostly in the form of car- 

 bonic acid gas, which exists in the 

 air only in small quantities. It is 

 this gas which causes the boiling 

 up of soda water. It is heavier than 

 common air. You can make it and 

 see its properties by pouring diluted 

 muriatic acid upon pieces of lime- 

 stone in a tall glass, as seen in fig. 

 5. It is so heavy that you can pour 

 it from one glass to another. A 

 lighted taper puf into it will be ex- 

 tinguished. 



The air never lacks its part of 

 of the nourishment of plants, and f"..i. 5. 



man can do nothing to improve it. But the soil is 

 under man's control, and he can supply, when he 

 knows the composition of his soil, and the composi- 

 tion of any plant, what may be lacking of material to 

 make that plant ; and he can grow certain plants on 

 his land until they eat up all of their proper food, and 

 then he cin make them grow no more, until he fur- 

 nishes to the soil the lacking substances. As all 

 the inorganic part, and much of the organic part, of 

 plants is obtained from the soil, it is of the highest 

 importance to farmers to know the nature of their land. 

 The SOIL, like plants, is composed of an organic 

 and an inorganic part — each part supplying its 

 appropriate food to the plant. The organic part in 

 good land is from one-tenth to one-twentieth of the 

 whole. In peaty soils it is much greater. This is 

 the reason that muck from a peaty bog makes a good 

 manure for hnd lacking in organic matter. This 

 part jf the soil is derived frtim decayed roots, leaves, 

 Sic., the dung and bodies of animals, 8ic. As this 

 organic matter is taken from the soil by the roots of 



plants, the land must of course become poorer and 

 poorer, and less able to bear a crop, until at last it 

 becomes what is called worn out. To prevent this, 

 organic matter must be supplied in barn-yard manure, 

 by which is returned to the field the hay, straw, lac., 

 taken from it, and by plowing under clover and other 

 green crops, fcc. 



The INORGANIC part of the soil consists of sajid, 

 clay, liine, potash, soda, magnesia, oxide of iron, 

 oxide of manganese, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, 

 and chlorine. Just the same substances that we told 

 you in our last number were found in the ash of 

 plants. These substances plants take from the soil 

 with their roots, in a liquid state, being dissolved by 

 rains, snows, and spring water, in the same way that 

 you would dissolve salt in water. All productive 

 soils contain these substances, though in difTerent 

 proportions. 



A Family Scene. — The following little scene 

 is by Mrs. Siqournev. It should teach our young 

 readers the importance of being able to render them- 

 selves useful in a time of misfortune : 



' I Imvc lost my v.hole fortune,' said a merchant ns he re- 

 turneij one evenmg to his home ; * we can no longer keep 

 our carriage. We must leave this large house. The children 

 can no longer go to expensive schools. Yesterday I was a 

 rich man , to-day, there is nothing I can call my own.' 



' Dear husband,' said tlie wife, ' we are still rich in each 

 other and our children. Money may pass away, but God 

 has given us a better treasure in those active hands and 

 loving hearts.' 



' Dear father,' said the children, ' do not look so sober. 

 We will help you to get a living,' 



' What can you do, poor things !' said he. 



' You shall see ! you shall sec !' answered several voicea. 

 ' It is a pity, if we have been to school for nothing. How 

 caii-the father of eight children be poor ! We shall work 

 and make you rich again !" 



APRIL. 



BY LONGFELLOW. 



When the warm sun, that brings 

 Seed-time and harvest, has returned again, 

 'Tia sweet to visit the still wood, where springs 



The lirst (lower of the plain. 



I love the season well. 

 When forest glades are teeming with bright forms, 

 Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell 



The coming in of storms. 



From the earth's loosened mold 

 The sapling draws its sustenance, and thrives : 

 Though stricken to the heart with winter's cold, 



The drooping tree revives. 



The softly-warbled song 

 Comes through the pleasant woods, and colored wings 

 Arc glancing in the golden sun, along 



The forest openings. 



And when bright sunset fills 

 Tlie silver woods with light, the green slope throws 

 lis shadows in the hollows of the hills. 



And wide the upland glows. 



And when the day is gone, 

 In the blue lake, the sky, o'erreaching for, 

 la tioUowed out, and the moon dips her horn. 



And twinkles many a star. 



Inverted in the tide 

 Stand the gray rocks, and trembling shadows throw. 

 And the fair trees look over, side by side, 



And see themselves bolow. 



Sweet April, many a thought 

 Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed ; 

 Nor shall they fail, till, to its autumn brought, 



Life's golden fruit is shed. 



