Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-03-23
yos Su9eles alerala.
Examlaation OF Soils by tho Horti-
cultural Society. -,

<@<@ -f1kt4tJ - 49, @A0sf1 1880 >S~~
'porfecting plan of operations for
= careful analysis of the soils of
Southern California, which, if car
ried ont - contemplated, must re-
snit n great good to our agricultu-
raj interests. His plan is as fol-
lows:
The Board of Directors appoints
= committee of three Intelligent
farmers In each locality to select
soils for analysis. Each commit
tee, Actlng under directions given
by Prof. #. w. Hiigard, OF the
State UpiversIty, selects several
varieties Of soils from the vicinity
Id which they live, which samples
shall fairly represent the various
kinds Of soils within their jurisdic-
ton. These soils are to be put up
IN duplicate-one portion in u
thu can for analysis and another
portion Ia o glass jar for deposit and
retary OF the Society. The cans
and Jars are to be numbered ae re-
celved by the Secretary, and a rec
ord kept by him Of localities from
which the samples are taken,
names of committee selecting
them, etc. The cans are then to be
sent to Professor Hilgard for anal
ysis. His report is to be published
IN the horticultural, aud label
containing the analysis OF each
sample is to be printed aud placed
on its appropriate jaron exhibition
In the Secretary's Office. The Soci-
ETY. Is 10 then place permanent
stakes at each place from which q
sample has been taken, marked
'tH. 8. s. A. No. =" horticultural
Society Soil Analysis No., the
number to correspond with the
number in the Secretary's Office.
Each farmer or orchardist can then
compare his soil with that of the
marked localities, and after finding
\ stake in soil similar TO his own he
can take the number, 60 to the Sec.
re.ary's office and secure an analy-
sis which Will very nearly or quite
apply to his own soil. In connec-
ti0n with this work, it is entirely
practicable to ascertain what soils
are best suited to the cultivation of
different fruits, grains and other
farm products, together with the
treatment that the various soils
eh0uld receive in order that they
may produce different crops to the
best advantage. The Society has
the machinery or organization
suitable for Carrying forward such
. work as this, and there Is no
reason why the undertaking sh hould
not succeed. Mr.. Hollis eOrres-
rondence with Professor Hilgard
has brought forth the following
letter which is of public interest:
Il. M. Holt, ESQ. Sir.
Yours of the 18th is to hand. The
plan of your Society, to have an
exhaustive examination of your
soils, is an excellent ore, aud will
gladly do all l can TO carry it into
effect. 1 have now under my
hands-or rather those. of my as.
sistant-two soils falling within
your limits; one representing the
"Grange Orchard Soil,n of MIR.
Shorb, the other one from the
National Ranch," San Diego. OF
the former one analysis has already
been completed some time ago; but
inasmuch as have lost my trained
assistant by resignation, four
months ago, and have now to train
up another into this peculiar work,
tsat work has been on the ragged
& edge, 1t being necessary to verify
the analysis by repetition until I
know 1t TO be reliable. Thus the
second analysis of Mr.. Shorb's is
still under way, though nearly COM
pleted. hope to be able to report
on 1t within the next two weeks.
1t Is not generally understood
what Q long job each soil analysis
~. To be of value it must be very
elaborate, taking at best from two
to- three weeks time. You will
therefore readily perceive the in-
nortance of judicious and pains.
taking se.ectit n of specimens to be
subjected to this costly process.
The University has undertaken to
maintain n laboratory and one
chemist, entirely outside of the
courses of instruction, for the pur-
pose Of carrying on Investigations
relating to agriculture, on speci-
mems furnished by intelligent par
ties desiring them for public use.
1t cannot undertake to pay other
expenses, which could legitimately
come only under the head of the
field work of an agricultural sur.
vey. 1t must be presumed that the
beneflt derived from the investiga.
tlons will repay the parties con.
cerned for the trouble in collecting
Sand outlay for express charges,
When specimens designed for the
Paris Exhibition were wanted at
short notice, express charges were
paid here in expectation of State
appropriation, which, failing, was
out of pocket for them for some
time, until relieved by spec
ial action of the Regents.
have now on hand some 120 soil
sam ples-so obtained, awaiting in.
vestigation. My general plan ia to
analyze first those representing the
'argest or most important agricul.
al districts, gaining general data
which to base the selection of
to come next. But L think
iiy fair to give precedence,
IN these limita, to such as are
specially called for by intelligent
parties with view to soil improve
ment and progressive agriculture
generally. On that score, there
fore, l shall feel justified in giving
the soils from your region a large
share of attention.; albeit must,
Of necessity, maintain q certain
balance as regards the work done
for different parts ofthe State; and
the investigation of soils must Of
ten give way to that Of products
and technicallprocesses. 10 short,
having but one man to do the
work that would easily keep three
men going at full speed, I have to
do 1t three times slower, and thus
try the patience OF all parties con-
cerned.