Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-11-21
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Tni ST Jbssur
Major Gcnl. & Or. Mr.. Erul.


This Il MI important snhiert to the
Agrieuttnid. and should 10 studied attrn-
lively. The combination or ttr compo-
nent paris st which the apil4 nrc formed
(ns aand. clay, lirne, &r.) cotnpoge, as
either ot these Bubgtances. predominant, d
anndy, elavry, ralcn rroug sail, &c: but o4
Mons ofthe elrths alone, II odnpt,d 10 col.
t~iv,tton, II Is by n lniicidug mixture Of
them, thus correcting the dcfeicncca OF
each other, and having in ahundance those
containing The largest amount Of farilisinp
properties, that sc find thn hest soils and
the tafner ought to know tho properties Of
each, Tint bc may improve his land In the
best niauler, with the least expense. San
dY s,ll3 nre light Dnd tree, tiftoo porous In
Etexturr, sloNll be m'xed with clay, to make
Them more rctentiye Of watcr9 aud with a
plentiltl addition uf manure, ufe capable Of
producing the most lusuriaut yrgpfntiar
Clofry sells Inve more cohesion Than
either eon1 or ealcaroous, and absorb and
retain watcr with great tenarity; when too
adhesive for easy lllling, shou 1 be reducrd
70 the state ofloam, by the addition Of such
snbetanccs "a tend to destroy it, as sand.
ashes, saw:nnst, Sc; and If lime II want.
ing, i must he supplied, regardless Of ex.
ponEr, especially If it IL reqlifcd to raise
wheat toaliy perfection, resembling II crop.
Calcarroa4 soils very seldom, If ever, need
correcting; the limo they contain II - nr.
ccssary 10 The organization Of plants, that
it is ~otiencr required 10 supply deficiency,
than 10 destroy an excess.
A variety of opinions arc held 81 to the
proper state Of The limo applied 10 land.
Whera Il Is desired % rot the vegetable and
animal remains in the soil, burnt or pure
lime is necessary, that It's caustio qualities
nny promote decomposition. lr only 10
supply Il deficiency, It isu waste Of Labor
u tarn, If ii can he as easily obtained in
the powdered form, or rs marl, for.the. caus.
tic ltmn again returns 10 It's native state,
by the abso ption OF the water and carbonic !
acid, Of which Il was deprived by burning
The FLOWING process, although not sufi-
accurate to obtain miautplp he ex.
isting proportions Of the earths in the soil.
is sufficiently SO for all practical purposes.
Take a quantity Of the soil. and after II is
well worked with the hand, roll in a ball.
carefully weigh and try thoroughly by the
are, taking care not u burn ii; when cold.
again, and the difference ID amount
is the weight of water the soil absorbs,
which is an important point, and to be
careful y noted, for by 1t is determined the
fertility and proportions Of heat Of
different soils. The sample shou d now be
pulyerised, and with a fine sieve, the coar
ser particles separated from the finer. The
divisions must be analysed separately.
II is ve,y probable that among The coarser
may be found imperfectly decomposed ami.
nal and vegetable remains; these may he
EASILY recognised, and after noting their
laid aside without further test
Put the remainder into a glass, and poor
Ipon it diluted muriatic Or nitric acid: III
,aicareous matter IL present, an efferves.
,ence, res albling boiling, will ensue.
which NUT be continued till the lime Is
dissolved the remainder, after the acid is
poured off, is either sand or CLAY, and nos.
both; they may be readily distinguish
d, the sand feeling rough, and scratches
clay has q g.easy feeling, dis
readily, and remains for some time
uspended in water. They must be weigh.
and by subtrncting from the former
.uantity, the weight oflime is known. %
vision, weigh, pnt into an iron vessel, Or
rueible, and expose to a heat, observe
le fumes which arise-if they smell like
urnt leather, It is animal, and il like wood :
noke. it is vegetable remains; after this,
nd each following operation, thu weight
Just be carefully noted opposite the name ,
: each separate part.) Now boil in four !
mes their weight Of water, for some fifteen Y
twenty minutes-stir it well, aud permit a
E heavier portion, usually consisting of c
nd, to settle. pour the turbid water on the d