knowledge, has done full justice to the vast
agricultural resources of the southern portion of the American
confederacy. But there is much of its soil which is not rich in the
elements of bread. Nothing but the careful study of these elements,
and of the natural laws by which they are governed, can remedy
defects in wheat culture anywhere, but especially on very poor land.

All alkaline minerals, such as potash, soda, lime, ammonia, and
magnesia, hasten the solution of the several insoluble compounds of
silica in the soil. This fact should be remembered by every farmer.
To undertake an explanation of the various ways in which alkalies,
oxides, and acids act and re-act upon each other in the surface of
the earth, when subject to tillage, would be out of place in this
outline view of wheat-growing in the United States. I may state the
fact, however, as ascertained by many analyses, that a cubic foot of
good wheat soil in the valley of the Genesee, contains twenty times
more lime than do the poorest soils in South Carolina and Georgia.
The quantity of gypsum, bone-earth, and magnesia, available as food
for plants, varies in an equal degree. Not only lime, but phosphoric
acid, potash, and magnesia are lacking in most soils, if one desires
to raise a large crop of wheat, and have the seeds of the grain
weigh as much as the straw. In a number of the specimens of wheat
analyzed by Prof. Way, when cut close to the roots, the dry wheat
outweighed the dry straw.

Having secured the growth of a bright, hard, glassy stem, the next
thing is to develop a long, well-filled ear. To this end, available
ammonia or nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and magnesia are
indispensable. Ammonia (spirits of hartshorn) is necessary to aid in
forming the combustible part of the seed. The other ingredients
named are required to assist in making the incombustible part of the
grain. In 100 parts of the ash of wheat, there are the following
substances, viz.:--

Silica 2.28
Phosphoric acid 45.73
Sulphuric acid 0.32
Lime 2.06
Magnesia 10.94
Peroxide of iron 2.04
Potash 32.24
Soda 4.06
Chloride of sodium 0.27
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Total