RELATIONS BETWEEN TUE SOIL AND THE PLANT. W 



They all enter through the roots, having always 

 been previously dissolved in water, if they were 

 received in fine solid particles, the ash of any particu- 

 lar plant would be different according to the differences 

 in various soils; but this is not found to be the case, 

 as each plant has a peculiar ash of its own. 



a. Experiments have been made by preparing six 

 different plots of ground in the same manner, and then 

 mixing with one alumina, with another lime, with 

 another soda, with another magnesia, aiu\ so on; all 

 of these substances being reduced to a verj- fine jww- 

 der. The residt was that the ash in the same plants 

 grown on all of tliese plots, was nearly identical in 

 composition; thus showing that they did not take in 

 rrery thing in the shape of fine particles that came in 

 contact with their roots, but receive*! their food in 

 nlntion, and even then only such as suited their 

 partieular wants. 



It may be best here to explain that a sul^tance 

 q>oken of as in solution isdissolve<l, acconiing to the 

 eoflunon acceptance of the word, just as sugar or salt 

 is dissolved in water. 



The fertile soil then must contain all of these in- 

 organic subtftances, because plants will not flourish 

 without them. a. Alumina does not enter into plants 

 to any it ' ^decactent, but is necess 'r 



rtaaoBs iiare been mentioned \\ -^ 



to the stiffatas and >u-ture oi I 



6. Manraaeae can n>' t-d indispr o 



the ordmary crops, but there are some classes of trees 

 which appear to require it in considerable quantities. 

 Tlw others on the list are foumi in alt cultivateti crops. 

 The foil *;tble gives instant < ' i- common 



t ; MS were made in ( > 



