Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-09-17

form of limestone. chalk, and shells. 1t is al
principal constituent OF mari. SOILS which
have due proportion Of this ingredient, are
naturally fertile and durable in 4 high de-
gree.
5. Animal and vegetable sxbsta1oes.-I
These improve the soil by operating in sew
eral ways. They give warmth to the sol,
furnish nutriment directly to the plant, alb
sOrb moisture and nutritious substance from!
the air, and render the soil loose and preserve
liz in state Of pulverization
6. Wharf.-The power soils possess of
retaining moisture enables them to resist the \
effects Of drought. In analysis, the quantity |
Of water held BY soils after being exposed to
the suns rays, is that only which is consider
ed as forming component part of them.
The following method of analysing soils, or
the proportions of their compo-
inent parts, is, if carefully conducted, sufR-
cientiy accurate for all practical purposes.
Specimens Of the soil should be taken about
three inches below the surface, and from the
average of the field. A convenient quantity |
to experiment upon, after stones are separa:
ted, is about 400 grains.
/. Separate by two sleeves all the stones
and pebbles,-with one, those larger than al
quarter of an inch in diameter, and with the
other those less. To effect this, the soil must
be well dried in the sun and gentle bruised
in mortar. Then ascertain by weighing,
the rate per cent, each bears to the original
mass and note it down.
2. The soil after weighing is then placed
in crucible and heated ten or fifteen min
utes to a temperature Of about 500 deg. Fab
renheit, constantly stirring it,-and If ther-
mometer is not used, the proper degree of
heat may be easily ascertained by means Of
the wooden rod with which it is stirred,c
while the colour Of the wood remains unchan-
ged it is not too hot, but as soon as it begins
to become brown, the process must be stop
ped. 1t is then again weighed, and the loss
is set down as water.
3. 1t is next returned to the crucible, and
Exposed to high red heat, till no blackness
remains in it, repeatedly stirring It with an
iron rod so as TO expose new surfaces contin-
,ually to the air. 1t IS again weighed, and
the loss denotes the amount Of animal and
vegetable matter.
4. Mix the remainder with three or four
times its weight of water, stir it thoroughly
for several minutes, until it is intimately diff
fused, and then suffer it to rest. The coarse
sand will fall to the bottom of the vessel in a.
r bout a minute, the finer in two or three min
: utes. The liquid is then poured off into ano-
I Their vessel, the sand dried and weighed, and
=. its quantity noted down as silicious soil.
: 5. The decanted liquid is suffered to stand
r till it settles and becomes clear,-it is then
|, poured off, and the sediment dried at a red
! heat, weighed, and set down as aluminou.
c soil.
l. 6. The presence Of carbonate of lime N
l. soil, (Which is generally in small quantities,
e is readily ascertained BY pouring upon it mu
" ratio acid diluted with water. IL it contains
&c ately takes place in greater or less degree
1t according to the quantity. To ascertain tn
a. proportion of this ingredient, place a nev
portion Of the soil in glass vessel, and a,
is certain its weight,-also determine the weigh
Of Of about a gill of diluted muriatic acid, an
IS. place weights in one side of the scales to ba
e ance them both; then pour ON the muriati
e. acid. In three hours, all the carbonic ac
es from the carbonate of lime will have bee
ms driven off, and after blowing it out Of the We
he sci ascertain the loss of weight. Then as {
In is to so, so is this loss to the amount of ca
hit Donate oflime in the soil.
tmay be important to be able to dete
10 sulphate Of lime (gypsum) in soils, though
or IS not generally looked upon as a compone
al part. The following is Sir HI. Davy's met
sss cd: A given weight of soil must be heat.
en- red for half an hour in a crucible mixed wi
les one third Of powdered charcoal. The mi
to- ture must be boiled for quarter of an no,
in halfpnt OF water, and the liquid pass
ar through filter, and exposed for some da
:, to the air in an open vessel. If any consi
lily cradle Quantity Of gypsum exist in the soil.
soil white precipitate will gradually form in Z
ard liquid, and the weight Of it will Indicate {
hey proportion.
ate The mos, f.r,Ie COLL. A.. ,ho.. ,,,h;.h -.
- tam proper proportion Of the different ing
MY dents. The following are the proportions
o MS rich aluvial soil, given by Sir John Sincl
oy as the most fertile for grasses. Slick, zinc
re- re, ding stones and sandy ~ parts, alumine
XIII carbonate Of lime 6, animal and vegeta
matter 9. 1t also contained one part in {
pre- OF gypsum. The proportions agree v.