The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-07-26
T:he Earm+
ANALYSIS OF THE O1L-ABSORPTION,
&C.

The cheit chemist of the Department
of Agriculture, Prof Brown, in the re-
port for 1871, relating to the analysis
of soils, furnishes remarks that are OF
interest to the general farmer, and es-
pecialy to the horticultural. lie
says:
In the early days of agricultural
science much was anticipated from the
services which chemistry would be
able to render in the way of determln-
ing accurately the several substances
used in the growth of crops, and the
proportion of each of these in the diff
ferent kinds of crops Having made
these several determinations, nothing
more would be necessary than to ascer
tain what element of plant food is de-
ficient in the SOIL and supply it accord
ingly. This appears so simple, and at
the same time so plausible, that 1t is
not surprising that there should arise
almost mania for soil-analysis among
progressive farmers. But unforeseen
difficulties arose, and these ardent an
ticipations were doomed to disappoint-
ment: and the value of soil-analysis is
now in danger of being as much under
valued as it was formerly overestimat-
ed.
The first and chief difficulty in the
way of profitable soil-analysis is the
great diversity and inconstant charac-
ter of soils. We may take samples of
soils from several places on the same
acre of ground and analysis will show
that each is different from the other,
SO that a single sample taken for analy-
sis would be Of no value, and indeed
might mislead the farmer in the proper
improvement of his soil In relation
to several important elements of fertlll-
ty the composition of the soil is very
far from being constant.
Ammonia is one of the most import
ant elements of plant-food, but is ex-
ceedingly volatile; and if we examine
soil when it is first broken for
Spring crop, and repeat the examination
after the field has been exposed to the
heat of the Summer months, we shall
find that the ammonia of the soil has
diminished one-half or more, under the
influence of Summer heat. On the
other hand, the soluble salts of potash,
soda, lime, &c, will accumulate under
the influence of dry, hot weather; but
if the drenching rains of Spring are
suffered to wash the soil, these soluble
salts will proportionally diminish. 1t
will be readily perceived that an accur-
ate analysis of the same soil at different
seasons of the year will show very diff
ferent results. * * X
The power of soil to absorb and
retain moisture is an important feature
in regard to its productiveness. This
appears to be intimately related to the
amount of water it is able to hold be-
low saturation; and both these pro-
perties can be determined by any one
who has at command an accurate bal
ance These properties, together with
the facility of rercolation and the ac-
tivity of capillary action, depend large
" on the firmness of the particles COM
posing the soil The proportion of
clay in soil has usually been regarded
as the measure of these several proper
ties of soil in relation to water This
is true only so far as clay is not suffer
ed to become saturated with water, so
as to cohere and form a compact mass.
In this condition it loses most of its
absorbent power.
The relations of soils to heat is a
subject which is too often overlooked in
soil analysis. Investigations in this
lao host ,,rpSn..,tn1 in n
field under cultivation. Several Their
mometers should be used at the same
time in differtent parts of the field in
exposures as nearly alike as possible,
so as to determine the rate at which
each quality of soil acquires heat as
the dav advances In similar manner
the loss of heat in the evening can be
determined. These, and kindred in
vestigations, can be conducted by the
farmer himself, with but little knowl-
edge of science. If a farmer carefully
observes the growth of his crops, he
will need but the application of a few
general principles to lead him to the
proper improvement of his soil If,
with good sun exposure, his crops
wear pale green, he may fairly infer
that there is deficiency of available
nitrogen in the soil If the straw Of
his grain is soft and too weak to bear
the head he may learn that there is too
little potash in his soil. Or, if there is
habitually a good growth of straw,
with but small amount of grain, let
him resort to phosphates for remedy
soil, and the manner in which his crops
grow on it, will teach the intelligent
farmer more important practical lessons
in the management of his farm than he
will be able to learn from the most ex-
haustive analysis.