tailieunhanh - THE PLANT AND ATMOSPHERE

The object of cultivating the soil is to raise from it a crop of plants. In order to cultivate with economy, we must raise the largest possible quantity with the least expense, and without permanent injury to the soil. Before this can be done we must study the character of plants, and learn their exact composition. They are not created by a mysterious power, they are merely made up of matters already in existence. They take up water containing food and other mat[Pg 12]ters, and discharge from their roots those substances that are not required for their growth. . | THE PLANT AND ATMOSPHERE What is the object of cultivating the soil What is necessary in order to cultivate with economy Are plants created from nothing The object of cultivating the soil is to raise from it a crop of plants. In order to cultivate with economy we must raise the largest possible quantity with the least expense and without permanent injury to the soil. Before this can be done we must study the character of plants and learn their exact composition. They are not created by a mysterious power they are merely made up of matters already in existence. They take up water containing food and other mat Pg 12 ters and discharge from their roots those substances that are not required for their growth. It is necessary for us to know what kind of matter is required as food for the plant and where this is to be obtained which we can learn only through such means as shall separate the elements of which plants are composed in other words we must take them apart and examine the different pieces of which they are formed. What must we do to learn the composition of plants What takes place when vegetable matter is burned What do we call the two divisions produced by burning Where does organic matter originate Inorganic How much of chemistry should farmers know If we burn any vegetable substance it disappears except a small quantity of earthy matter which we call ashes. In this way we make an important division in the constituents of plants. One portion dissipates into the atmosphere and the other remains as ashes. That part which burns away during combustion is called organic matter the ashes are called inorganic matter. The organic matter has become air and hence we conclude that it was originally obtained from air. The inorganic matter has become earth and was obtained from the soil. This knowledge can do us no good except by the assistance of chemistry which explains the properties of each part and teaches us where it is to be found. It is not necessary for farmers .