Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-29
Letter from Prof Emmons.
LEAKsyILLE. Oct. %

LEAKSYILLE Oct. 20.
To has Ercellency DaVid S. Reid.
SIR I have had occasion in my former
very brief essays to refer to the ana lysis of
soils or to their composition Now many
maintain, with show of truth, that the ana
lysis of soils is useless, becausefrst it is said
we cannot determine the exact amount Of
the essential elements of nutrition which the
soil contains; and in the second place, that
the composition of soils is inconstant and
variable. The latter assertion, however, is
not wholly true While it is admitted that
the composition of field is not as constant
lthG. .eompasitipn of a mineral, it IS still
cultivation Fields have their lean and rich
belts or ridges, but if as inconstant as certain
chemists would have US believe, how hap
pens it that in their ordinary cultivation
without manures, there is such constancy
of Weld, taking alternate rows of grain IN
succession. There is field Of grain, or tim
othy, or root crops, whose very appearance
tells us that there is no great difference IN
the composition of the several parts of it,
because it is very uniform in its aspects, and
when harvested very uniform in the amounts
produced But again, nature has wisely
provided for an uniformity for which con-
tend for the rocks which produce the soil
contain very uniform distribution of the
most important elements of nutrition. The
GRANTEES contain both potash and phosphoric
acid. In the disintegration of these rocks
!, these bodies will be distributed through the
i soil very evenly.
0 But to turn to the first objection, the ex-
r actness and minuteness of analyst On this
r EboEf M
n ANALYSIS turns upon relations. We may not
}, be able to say that soil one foot deep con
tains precisely so many acres OF potash
u But we may say that soil after having re
al pea,edly exhausted our skill in analysis
ur contains only 1-50th Of one per cent of pot
he ash. Now observation proves that With thI
lst small amount of potash wheat is imperfect.
IS grown, the yield is too small to give prof
u. the seed even is not returned. We Sc
= then that it is the relation of an analysis
ri the product that we wish 10 ascertain an
cts this NAV always be. determined by an accl
7ill rate chemist. It matters not then what Il
nj exact weight of fertil:zing matter IS dete
pie mined in given case of soil analysis, prov
caa ded we can determine the relations Of 6
RES composition to the products. Ihls ace
to be the correct view we should take ot q
[. kind of investigation. This is what ceris
chemists have overlooked. They have !
seen what the planter and farmer requlr'
the We are to make general Application OF
roll. view of the matter The planter obser
9th that his soil produces only five bushels
Raw. corn to the acre. The chemist hnds I
n Of there is only 1-5Oth of one per cent OF
,ufi- ash or phosphoric acid in the soil. II
fthe lows generally that when soils are thus
duced in their important elements, Whea
acts Indian corn cannot be proftably grown.
matters not if there are really many ton
,roI of potash or phosphOric acid in given
,noJ bic measure. Observation makes 1t T
= we that the plant cannot get enough OF this
on Of food under existing conditions In
2';I;ga. all that is necessary for the planter or
"A in mer to know, and with this information
free may proceed understanding gly in the Gu
? law ton of his soil.
ion Of Most respectfully your ob't seTv,t
,H e .Sa E. EMMON