INDIANA FARMER
SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE---No. 5.
DEVOTED   TO   AGRICULTURE,    HORTICULTURE,   MECHANICS,   AND   TIIE    USEFUL   ARTS.
VOL.. I.]    RICHMOND,   IND.,   M'AY   1,1852. [NO. 16.
COMMUNICATIONS. j they receive, mainly, if not altogether through
"~~~   777    7. '  the pores of their leaves.    It is the only source
For the Indiana Farmer.     ( l J
< from which they derive tho whole of their car-
(bon.
by PROFESSOR b. Lawrence. j     From fag it may eas*iy v^ seen how decay-
Elementa of Plants—Carbon. j ing vegetable matter; such as muck, barn-yard
Having spoken, informer numbers, of the or stable manure contributes tothe growth of
cniall number of elements of plants, and thej plants, as far as carbon is concerned. Whila
great importance of being able to distinguish* that decay is going on, thc manure is continual-
between what is simple and what is compound;; ly giving off carbonic acid; and as it rises in
I shall now proceed, in a few succeeding num- the air from under tbe plants, and among their
bers, to give an account of these elements as-leaves; it is seized by them, and appropriated to
they appear in their separate state, and like-j the nourishment and growth of plants. It ia
wise in their state of combination with some of thought also that plants derive a portion of
those s-abstances with which they are most in-i carbonic acid dissolved in water, through their
clined to unite. I likewise stated, in the last,'roots- But in whatever way they obtain it, as
number, that there are two sorts of elements! E00n as it is obtained, it is decomposed, thc cat-
whichenter into the composition of plants; one!k°« takes its place in the growing organism,
sort of which is termed organic, and the other, and the oxygen escapes into the air again. It
inorganic elements. The former, though they is als0 easy to see that the manure must bo
are fewer in number, yet constitute the groat-< plowed under; in order that it may bekeptmoist;
er part, both in tbe bulk and weight of plants, -for if it becomes dry, the progress of the de-
and entirely disappear in burning; while the> ca)r ceases?
latter, being incombustible, aro left in tho form]     Though" carbonic  acid acts so important a
of dust, called ashes. j a Part in the substance of vegetable life; it is
I stall first describe the organic, and then,vc^ deleterious and destructive to animal life.
the inorganic elements; and show how, as far} When " 1S Pure' U ls sald that a sinSle breath
as k&own, and in what state, they find their jof U Wl11 Provo fataL BeinS a constituent of
way into the interior of plants. I shall com- }common hme*0™, it frequently issues from tho
mencewith that substance which exists in the cracks and figures m that rock, a"d accumu-
greatest abundance, and plays the most conspic- latos in wells' cavorns> »nd mines; and not un-
uous part in all vegetable organisms, viz: frequently causes the death of those who venture
s~, n   -l        •    4t .   I '"to them without proper'nrecautions.
Oajibon.—Uarbon   is   the name   given   by       „   , ,      i    L    .   , ,   .
,._..,,, n j   i i Carbon, in the form of charcoal, is  a very
chemists, to the substance called charcoal.— .     r ,     . . , '      , '
,,- ,   -        , •    ,   ,   .    _.    _      ._,      .   j uselul substance in several ways.    It  has tho
When   wood  is   subjected  to heat,   either in( -   ;      ..     , . .
, i-i. i -.1   power ol absorbing large quantitiesof ammonia,
close  vessels, or in heaps   covered over with*   _     . ,       . , ,
.,       ,,   _,        ... .       , , Jcllensivo and noxious cases, hence it is used as
earth,   all   thc   other inorganic   elements are}    ,-,      _• -r ■ ,     ,      „ -i
, . a- ■    ,i f ,      .,    . >a niter lor purifying water, and other fluids; as
driven off in the  gaseous  form, and a black i     ..... ° .       .
■   i r. * i  .    r .i i   ii     r ,i   <a disinfecting 5*rsnt; as, an antisepiic,  to pre-
mass  is left,  nearly of thc   same bulk of the! , -%     -   °     ' ,     * **   T
■ .,„,,,.,. i , i vent the putrefaction of animal substances,    it
original wood, which is nearly pure carbon.—) 1 - ,
r_        4-4 s    r       t-   ,   s    cr. i-  i     is also spread upon land as a manure; not that
It constitutes from forty to fifty per cent of the *   -      l ,.      .    Y     ,-   ,
ii . ii   i •     i       •    _.     ,        4. , (it aids the growth of plants directly, but by ab-
whole vegetable kingdom in the dry state; and       ■»*■=»'■■■;'■-■»'■'■ ) .-       ,     ,
r .       c     •    .1 ■    -s      -.        • i   sorbin" the noxious rases above mentioned, al-
when set on fire in thc open air, it unites with. ° b  ,    ,    ,    r   i     .    ..
• .     ...        -r {most all of which are the food of plants, it re-
oxygen,   passes into   the  am form or gaseous **'■•■-« r
.Y i-i .,, „.,       tnin-: them in   read mens for  their uso whenev-
state, and mingles with the atmosphere.    This r   n      e reauim.
ii j      .     •       .,     t  - .       , cr the reriod arrives that they need them, and
is called carbonic acid.    It is produced, not on-  c P , ,    , •     ,i   *       „„ * l
i    .    ♦ -,   i. r   ii     i 1-, When readily velds them up for their  especial
ly by the burning of all substances, which are; reau"/ iL r
capable of combustion; and by the natural de- i^0110"4, ___„™_	
cay of all vegetable matter.    This gas is one of      Take away the feeling that   each man must
the principal articles of food to plants, which; depend on himself, and he relaxes his diligence.