When plants are destroyed by combustion or decay, what becomes of their constituents?
How does the inorganic matter enter the plant?
Are the alkalies soluble in their pure forms?
Which one of them is injurious when too largely present?
How may sulphuric acid be supplied?
Is phosphoric acid important?
How must silica be treated?
From what source may we obtain chlorine?
When plants are destroyed by decay, or burning, their organic constituents pass away as water, ammonia, carbonic acid, etc., ready again to be taken up by other plants.
The inorganic matters in the soil can enter the plant only when dissolved in water. Potash, soda, lime, and magnesia, are soluble in their pure forms. Magnesia is injurious when present in too large quantities.