Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-09-01
FROM THE GENEssEE FARMER
ANALYSIS OF SOILS.

FROM THE GENEssEE FARMER.
ANALYSIS OF SOILS.
IT has heeR given rs the golden rule in
agriculture, 'Tu uso such nianures AS will
make heavy land lighter. light land heavier,
C"'d land hotter, aud hot land colder > or in
Nther words Ia remedy the existing defect
we must know what that defect is I'VE must
understand the nature of the soil we are TO
nperhte upon, IN order 10 determine whether
this or that Kind ot manure is 10 be applied
or whether large or small quantity j.
needed 10 bring the proportions oil the soil TO
ihe standard of fertility. II is therefore of
Importance that the farmer should be &C.
quainted with the nature and proportions of
ahe constituents Of soils that he should
know what these proportions are in such as
are most fertile ; and also what they are in
the soil which he has To cultivate This
cannot be determined with any degree of nc
curacy but by analysis
Another consideration in favor of ANALYSIS
of soils, is that il will substitute precision of
language for the very indefinite and unsatis-
factory mode Of expression which now pre-
wills. Thus for instance, the distinction be-
tween a sandy and ciayey ioanl often does
80; depend so much upon certain proportions
uf clay and sand, as upon the quality of the
sol! OF the place where the term is used. In
sandy region OF the country, a soil might
be termed cIayry while the same soil in
Clayey region would he called sandy. a
so!her instance large crop OF some grain
or vegetables raised ; the success il princi-
i'ally owing TO the nature OF the soil but un-
less the proportions OF its ingredients gil
ven precisely, Instead of describing its quail
hies 10y indefinite EXPRESSIONS, we are at n less
10 know now to Eniate those proportions
offs niiS x,bi rb
tIculiriy Influence their fertility, arc these
l. Stones and pebbles These generally
have little other effect than TO keep the soil
loose and porous, as they are usually hard
and unclanging. Sometimes however, they
absorb ard retain water and also disintrgrate
and mix with the finer parts OF the soil.
.. SHticiOus Diaiier.-Ths is commonly in
the form Of fine and coarse sand Soils where
this predominates are little in jured by water,
having little attraction for it, and retaining il
ieebly. They never ,Uintsr Kill wheat.
;. luminous matter. This is the predo-
infant constituent Of clay soils Unlike The
preceding, il has powerful attraction for
water, and retains it strongly ; hence clay
will remain long suspended in water while
sand sinks Immediately. Aluminous soils
- O. -Gson.-.oo -e4s4ett, =. q, .rTd UaEe hard ia
dry season.
4. Carbonate oCiimc This exists in the
form of limestone, chalk and shells. 1t is a
principal constituent Of mari Soils which
have a due proportion Of this ingredient, are
naturally fertile and durable in a high de-
gree.
5. AliDlal and vegetable substances
These improve the soil by operating in Sc
veral ways They give iOarmh to the soil
furnish Bulrirnent directly TO the plant, alb
sorb moisture and nutritious substance from
the az, ana render the soil loose and pre-
serve il in a state Of puiveriZatiOn.
g. Water.--The power soils possess oil re-
tanning moisture enables them to resist the
effects Of drought In analysis, the quantity
Of water held by soils after being exposed TO
The SUMS rays, is that only which is COnsld-
cred as forming a component part OF them.
.SrEsThe follow ing method of analysing soils,
.ss5r 7isseriaining the proportions of their com
1sci,eat parts, is, ifcareiully conducted, sufli-
ecfently accurate for all practical purposes
= Specimens of the soil should DO taken a.
bout three inches below the surface, and from
the average the field a convenient qunn-
IS tity TO experiment upon, alter stones ale Sc
oarated, is about 400 grains.
Separate by two sieyes all the stones
and nebbles. with one, those larger than {
quarter ofan inch in diameter, and with tht
other ;bcee less TOeffect THE, the soil mus
be well dried in the sun and gently bruised
in mortar Then ascertain by weighing
the rate per cent, each bears to the orIgina
mass and note it down.
2 The soil after weighing IS then placed
in crucibla anJ heated ten or fifteen MIN
ntes 10 a temperature Of about 300 Fahren
beit. constantly stirring it,-and il tber
nometer is no: used, the proper degree c
heat may be easily ascertained by means G
the wooden rod with which it is stirred
while the colour OF The wood remains un
changed il is not Too hot, but as soon as II be
Gins to become brown, the process must y
stopped 1t is then again weighed, and In
loss is set down ss tgaier.
8. II is next returned to the cruclhle, an
exposed 10 high red heat till no black nes
remains in il, repeatedly stirring At with a
iron rod so az to expose new surfaces coniIn
ually - the air. Ii ls again weighed, an