( 95) 



the vital principle, and so long as that continues the plant is able 

 to resist an opposing power, which is chemistry. When life ceases, 

 chemistry then asserts its power, and decay begins, which leads to 

 fermentation, and after this process is ended, putrefaction takes 

 charge, which soon resolves the body into its original elements ; 

 and they are then ready to aid in the construction of another living 

 body. Thus nothing is ever lost. It may change its location ; 

 the plant that grew at the head of a mountain torrent may ulti- 

 mately enter into the composition of a sugar cane in the delta of 

 the Mississippi* but it is still in the universe, silently performing 

 its duties. 



Many things contain salts available to the agriculturist. Lime, 

 ashes, plaster of Paris (sulphate of lime), saltpetre, common salt, 

 phosphate of lime, bone dust, coal ashes, hair, hoofs, horns, cop- 

 peras, and many others. Some of these substances have to be used 

 sparingly, such as salt or copperas, but all are beneficial to growing 

 plants. 



These substances act chemically, and free a great many inert 

 matters. Growing plants absorb vast quantities of carbonic acid 

 through their leaves, and carrying it down, throw it into the soil, 

 where it acts upon silica and allumina, freeing salts for their 

 growth. 



Wood and coal ashes are very rich in the salts, and furnish one 

 of the cheapest and best additions that can be made to land. CVal 

 ashes are not so rich in the various salts, but contain enough to 

 merit a better late than is generally awarded them. The composi- 

 tion of wood ashes is as follows : 



Two hundred parts of wood ashes contain 



Per cent. 



Carbonic acid 58 - 53 



Sulphuric acid 6.43 



Phosphoric acid 3 - 4 ^ 



Muriatic acid I- 82 



Lime 50.35 



Magnesia 4 - 



Potash and soda 67 - 96 



Silex 5 - 22 



Oxide iron 50 



Oxide manganese *- 



Water - 14 



200.00 



