Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-03-29
From Gle Semeur Canadien. -
ANALYSIS OF SOILS.

From ssLe Semeur Canaden.''
ANALYSIS OF SOILS.
We now see how we may arrive at an
analysis of the soil which we have to work
| in order TO make this analysis with great
precision, the assistance Of a Chemist is,
wi!bou. doubt, necessary. But, for the Or
binary purposes of agriculture, eny person
provided with scales and weighs, can make
the examination in manner sufficiently sat-
isfac.ory.
We take from the whole extent of the
ploughed bed Of The field submitted to our
examination, email quantity of earth. dry
it in the sun, and pulverize j. well. From
this we take small pari,-one pound for
example,-sf!er having thrown away the
stones and roots which may be found in it,,
leaving ALWAYS the fbrous matter. Then
we immerse j. 10 a vase full of water, where
it will be made thin BY agita.ng j! at differ
ent times. After ,rifing rest We skim off
the substance which floats and presents i.-
self in some abundance from the vegetable
remains. This should be laid aside for fu-
.ure consideration. Upon the mixture re-
naming we pour some muris'ic acid, which
is found at the Apo,hecaries,) in order TO
produce the proper effervesence TO attack
The calcarious substance, and dissolve it,
1t is necessary to stir it again, and to con-
time 10 pour on it some of the acid until
the boiling ceases and the separation Of the
calcarous substance completed. After a
momen. Of rest, we pour off gently into an
other vase all the water, and leave nothing
remaining except The aluminous end sIlicous
substances. We separate these from each
other by The addition of another supply Of
pure water, which we after wards stir and
pour of slowly into another vase, while 1t
holds in suspension The alumina. The slick
remains at The bottom Of the vase. The
process terminated, we weigh again, and
that which will be lost 10 the weights, re-
united with the vegetable, luminous end
sllicious substances, dried after the work,
will indicate 10 US the proportion of calca'
rious substance dissolved,
Some very rich earth in Euglsnd, thus
anaIy has given The following result! -
Slick, 80 parts; Alumina, 90; Calcarious,
%; M old, 1l,-making 100 parts.
1t is clear tina. by the aid Of these expert
ments, SO simple and easy as to be within
the reach Of all classes Of farmers, we are
able to require jus. idea OF the approxi'
mating proportions Of each substance. Ii is
useless, as we have already said, 10 procure
more thorough analysis; because in agri-
culture i. is necessary TO lose the least OF
time possible, and moreover, the consti!u-
ent proportions Of some soil generally va
ries upon several parts Of the same field, and
the eye accustomed by previous study of
soils, assisted by The process above indica-
ted, easily recognizes that which i. is i'm
portan. to perceive and appreciate.
How TO MAKE DONKEY CEASE BRAY
1NG.-In 1910, we were once making a
journey in wagon in the province Of Pc
kin. Our equipage was under the guidance
of one OF our catechists, an old sho olmas'er,
mounted on a magnificent ass, SO full OF ar
dor end sgiliy that the two mules who
completed our team had ell the difficulty in
The world to keep up with him. This ass,
however was SO filled with the sense of his
own superiority, and so proud Of it, that
whenever he became aware Of the presence
Of sny Of his brethren, lie, them be at ever
so great distance, he never failed to begin
Boosting of II in such sonorons tone that his
folly became quite insuppor.able. When
we 60, TO an inn, instead Of trying 10 rest
himself, this indefa.igable bess, passed the
whole nigh. in practising his music; and
there appeared 20 be something so peculiar
ly provoking in the tones Of his voice, tina
all the asses within hearing Influenced, j
:, would seem, by the power of some magnet
ic fluid were quite sure to respond in
. magnificent bravura so Ina. altogether, it be-
came impossible to close our eyes.
One evening when our catechlst was
Wanting The qualities of his ass, we couIt
not help inefruptng him. "Your ass,
said we, sis an abominable brute. During
the whole journey be has prevented ou
getting q wink of sleep.'
; "Why did you not tell me so before 2
said the catechls, 81 would soon have stop
J ped his singing"
As the ancient schoolmaster was some
what of wag, and INDUCED occasionally in
i, small Joke, we took li,.le notice Of bis
reply, bu. that night we slep. quite sound
ly.
swell, did the ass make noise last
nigh. ," said he, when we Jet in The morn
ing.
"Perhaps not; at all events we certainly
did no. hear him."
"No, no; | think not; saw to that be-
fore wen, to bed. You must have no'lc-
ed.n he continued, '',hs. when an ass is GO
ing to bray he always begins by raising his
,ail, and he keeps i. extended horizontally
as long as his song lasts. To ensure silence,
therefore you have only to tie large stone
to the end Of his tail, the toor ass with a
large stone attached to his tail, and with The
air of having entirely los. his accustomed
;;,. He eves were fixed on the ground