Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-18
LETTER FROM pRoE. EMMoNs
LEAKsrILLa, Der. %.

LEAKsrILLE, Ocr 25 s
To his Ercellency Daoid s. Reid.
SIR: have had occasion in my former very brief
essays to refer to the analysis of soils to their
composition. Now many maintain, with show of
truth, that the analysis of soils is useless because
first it is said cannot determine the exact amount
of the essential elements of nutrition which the soil
contains; and in the second place. that the compo
ston of soils is nconstant and variable. The latter
assertion, however is not wholly true. While it is
admitted that the composition of field is not as
constant the composition of a mineral, it is still
sufficiently constant for all the purposes Of cultiva
ton Fields have their lean and rich belts or ridges
but if inconstant certain chemists would have
us believe how happens it that in their ordinary
cultivation without manures, there is such con-
stancy of yield. taking alternate of grain in
succession. There is field of grain, or timothy,
root crops, whose very appearance tells US that
there is 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 uniformity for which contend for
the rocks which produce the soil contain very uni
form distribution of the most important elements of
nutrition The GRANTEES contain both potash and
phosphoric acid In the disintegration of this rock
these bodies will be distributed through the soil
very evenly.
But to turn to the first objection, the exactness
and minuteness of analysis. On this point main
tain that the importance of soil analysis turns upon
relations. We may not be able to say that soil
foot deep contains precisely many acres of
potash. But We may say tnat a SOIL alter having
repeatedly exhausted skill in analysis contains
only 150th of per cent of potash. Now observa-
ton proves that with this small amount of potash
wheat is imperfecty grown, the yield is too small
to give profit-the seed even is not returned.
We then that it is the relation Of analysis
the product that we wish to ascertain and this may
always be determined by accurate chemist 1t
matters not then what the exact weight of ertzing
matter is determined in gwen of soil analysis
provided we can determine the relations of the COM
position to the products. This deem to be the
rect view should take of this kind of investiga
ton. This is what certain chemists have overlook
eli. They have not seen what the planter and farm
required. We to make general application
of this view of the matter. The planter observes
that his soil produces only five bushels of corn to
the The chemist finds that there is only l-5Oth
of one per cent of potash phosphoric acid in the
soil. 1t follows generally that when soils thus
reduced ill their important elements, wheat Indi-
an corn cannot be pro6tably grown 1t matters not
if there really many tons of potash phospho-
ric acid in given cubic IN assure. Observation
makes it plain that the plant cannot get enough of
this kind of food under existing conditions. This is
all that is necessary for the planter farmer to
know, and with this information, he may proceed
in the cultivation of his soil.
Most respectfully your ob't serv't.
E. EMMONS.