Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... LECTURE THIRD. ANALYSIS. On the Assimilation of Mineral Elements which penetrate the Plant in Aqueous Solution only.--The Medium from whence the Roots obtain them.--The Soil is the Support of the Roots, the Recipient of the Solution that feeds them, and the Laboratory where this Solution is prepared: it is composed essentially of three Constituents: Humus, Clay, and Sand.--Properties of Humus: its Influence in the Soil fixes the Ammonia, is a constant Source of Carbonic Acid which dissolves the Mineral Matters, and is the principal Agent in supplying Plants with their Mineral Constituents.--Utility of Clay in Arable Land: imparts Consistence to the Soil, retards the Passage of Water, fixes Ammonia, and removes a large Quantity of Salts from Saline Solutions, storing them up for future Supply; establishes an Equilibrium between Seasons of Drought and Rainy Weather.--Sand forms part of every Soil; forms its principal Constituent, communicating to it its principal Physical Properties, especially its Permeability to Air and Rain Water; it tempers the Properties of Clay.--Elements of the Soil, without which Vegetable Life is impossible: Phosphate of Lime, Potassa and Lime, which associated with a Nitrogenous Substance, and added to any kind of Soil, suffice to render it fertile.--Chemical Analysis fails when applied to Soils.--Necessity for substituting an artificial 40 known Compound in Experiment, to remove all Source of Error.--Results obtained: 1. With calcined Sand alone. 2. With Calcined Sand and Nitrogenous Substances. 3. Withtalcined Sand and Mineral Substances.--Each Agent of Vegetable Production exercises a double Function. I. An Individual Function, variable according to its Nature. 2. A Function of Union.--Special Action of...
