Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-22
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From DR.. Dana's Muck Manual.
Physical Properties Of Soil.

IN all attempts at improving soil bv manur,
two "hl"cts arc intended, which form III,
golden rule Of applying salts ard gclnc t.
make "hcavy land lighter, light land heavier
hot land colder and cold land hotter" Arc
there then, n"im outstanding all that has been
offered and sad. differences IN soil? Have
not. It may be asked, ali the preceding page,
been based on fact, that there is but one soil:
Trn" u has been so sad, 1t Is SAID so now -
Chemically the inorganic elements OF all soIl
are alike. The sllicates aud salts are uearl,
the same in all tho organic portion, the
gcne varies. aud that Ia a greater degree
than any other ingredient. While the slIr
Gates compose with great uniformity, from 90
10 30 per cent, and the salts Of lime. sul.
pha,c, and phosphate, from TO ! per cent
the gene varies from TO 20 per cent. rhe
slllcates may be finer or cOarscr, more sandy
or more clayey. All these circumstances ef.
feet, no: the chemical, but The physical, prep.
cries OF soil. The physical properties then,
are the foundation of the great diversity
which So" exhibits The physical charac-
ters Of soil are embraced under the terms.
cold, hot, wet, and dry land. These charac.
tcrs are dependent on four circumstances:
FIRST, The absolute weight of gwen bulk
Of soil
Secondly, its color;
Thirdly. ITS consistency
Fourthly, lis power OF retaining water.
In other words the physical characters Of
soil may be considered under
FIRST, lis relation to heat
Secondly, lis relation to moisture and gas: ::
Thirdly. It's consistency;
Fourthly, its electrical relation.
The relation In consistency makes soil
1uI lp latt m 4, baa nj /
ture, makes soil hot or cold. dry or wet The
great natural varieties of SOL arc sand, clay,
and luam first, the great distinction ~ the
scale Of soil, is sand and clay all lnternedl.
ntG varieties proceed from mixtures Of these,
with each other. Now the sand may be sill.
iceOus, or calcoreous-that .s, sllicatcs, the |
Distinguishing character Of soil in this cuun.
try, or mixed with n salt Of lime. the feature
Of much European soil. BY clay is meant
common blue clay, or suh-slllcate Of alumna
consisting OF alumlna B silica, GS oxide
OF iron and salts of lime, aud alkaies, Il.
Sandy clay Is clay and sand, equal parts.
I.oamy clay is clay and sand.
Peaiy earth is gene.
Garden mould is Z per cent. gcinc.
Arabic land is 3 per cent. GENE.
Taxing these several varieties, IL is found
that sand is the heaviest port Of soil, whether
dry or vet clay is among the ligh,est part
GENE has the least absolute weight, so that
~hIlc cubic foot Of sand weighs, in its com 4
man damp state, I4I lbs, clay weighs lis
lbs. aud gene 5l lbs. hence garden mould
and srnble soil weigh from l02 to 10 ibs.--I
The more gcinc compound soil Contains, the |
lighter II s.
Among the most important physical char
ac,ers at soil. ~ the power of retaining heat
this will be found tn be nearly 10 proportion
in jis absolute weight. The weight Of SOL
determines with I"lerabe accuracy. its pow
or of retaining heat. The graatcr the mass
~ given bulk. The greater IS this power -
Hence sands TeInIn heat longest, three tunes
longer than grine. aud half as long sgaln ms
rlay. Il"nrs. the dryness and heat of sandy
plnins. Snnd, CLAY. and peat. arc TO each
other ~ = aud = in thcr power of retain
inu hrut Bat wlHb' The capacity NJ soil 10
rPinln hcat drpcHis nu the absuiute weight.
the pn1cr in, he watn'd. saothcr very lnl.
JOfiBni PITY ysicsl chaTarter depends on four
principal circumstances. first. the cnlor sec
nnd. the dampncss third. the materials +:
Guuh. the angle NJ whlch the suns rays fall !
Fus. colrr; che black"r the color. The easier
~srned. Hhric sasd snd gray dih;r almost
80 per coni ~ the dpgfrc oi heat acquired IN /
gwen time. A. peat ard the yatiriIrs or |
GENE af, almost all ~ black ur dafk brown /
color, It Is seen how easily they may become