The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-01
Something About Soils.

Soils are understood, in agriculture to
be those portions of the surface of the earth
that are in texture and composition fitted
for vegetation. Rocks are the original ba-
sis of all soils. By the commissions OF ma
ture, or the long continued action of air,
moisture, and frost, they have been broken
into fragments more or less minute. These
changes can be marked through q large
number of gradations.
Some soils contain powders or large
stones that are spread over the surface
thickly and miDgle with the earth beneath,
giving it the name of rocky soil. Where
similar stones, but of smaller size abound,
the earth is known as a stony soil. A
third and still smaller division is known
as a gravelly soil; fourth is sandy soil
a fifth is a loan; while sixth, in which
the character of the particles OF the earth
differ from those referred to above, is
called a clay soil. To these we may add
Pess soils, which are composed almost en-
tirely OF vegetable matter.
OF the chemical caracter OF soils, one OF
the most reliable Classi6cations has been
given by Professor Johnson. 1t is based,
with much accuracy, on the elemeats that
the soils contain, as follows:
Il. Pure clay (pipe clay consisting of
about 60 of silica and 40 of alumlns and
oxide of iron, for the most part chemically
combined. 1t allows no silicious sand to
subside when diffused through water, and
rarely forms any extent of soil
''2. Strongest clay soil (tile-clay, unctu-
Gus clay, consists of pure clay mixed with
5 to 10 per cent. of silicious sand, which
cannot be separated from il by boiling and
decantation.
"3. Clay loan differs from a clay soil, in
allowing from 10 TO 30 per cent. of fine
sand to be separated from it by washing
as above described, By this admixture OF
sand, its parts are mechanically separated,
and hence its freer and more friable ma
ture.
"a. A Ioamy soil deposits from so to 60
Der cent. of sand by mechanical washing.
''5. A sandy loan leaves from 90 to 30 per
cent. of sand, and
sc. A sandy soil contains no more than
10 per cent. Of pure clay"
The above classification refers only to
the clay and sand in soils, leaving out the
important constituent of lime, of which
they are seldom entirely destitute. Pro-
lessor Johnston adds, therefore:
". Marty soils, in which the proportion
OF lime is more tnan 5, but does not ex-
coed 20 per cent. of the whole weight of
the dry soil. The mari is a sandy, losmy
or clay mari, accordingly as the proportion
of clay il contains would place under the
one or the other denomination, supposiDg
it to be entirely free from lime, or not to
contain more than per cent; and,
IS Calcareous soils, in which the lime
exceeding 20 per cent. becomes the dis
tinguishing constituent. These are also
cslcareous clays, calcareous loans, or cal
careous sand, according to the proportion
OF clay and sand which are present in
them.
Lastly, vegetable matter is sometimes a
main characteristic OF q soil, which gives
rise to further division of
SO. Vegetable molds, which are OF various
kinds from the garden mold, which con-
tains from TO 10 per cent, to the psaty soil
in which the organic matter may amount
40 60 or 40. These soils are also clayey,
!osmy, or sandy, according to the FREEDOM
5nant character OF the earthly admixtures."
The method of examining soils with the
view to naming them is given as follows:
spread weighed quantity OF the soil in
a thin layer upon writing paper and dry it
aor an hour or two in an oven or upon a
bot plate, the heat Of which is not sufi
cient to discolor the paper-the loss OF
weight gives the water 1t contained. While
this Is drying q second weighed portion
may be boiled or other wise thoroughly in
corporated with water and the whole then
poured into vessel, in which the heavy
sandy parts are allowed to subside until
the fine clay Is beginning to settle also.
This point must be carefully watched, the
liquid then poured of, the sand collected,
dried as before upon paper, and again
4A45 weight OI
sand in the known weight of the moist soil
which, by the previous experiment, has
been found TO contain q certain quantity
OF water, Thus, suppose two portions, each
OF 200 grains, are weighed, and the one in
the oven loses so grains of water and the
other 60 grains of sand-then the 200 grains
OF moist soil are equal to 80 of dry, and
this $50 grains of dry soil contains 60 grains
of dry sand, or 30 in 100 (40 per cent? II
would therefore, properly be called 9
loan, or loamy SOIL"
To determine the proportion of lime in
soil, when 1t exceeds per cent, proceed on
the following plan:
To 100 grains of dry soil, diffused
Through half pint of cold water, add
half wineglassful of muriatic acid; stir il
occasionally during the day, and let II
stand over night to settle. Pour off ths
clear liquor In the morning, and fill up the
vessel with water to wash away the exces.
80 acid. When the water is again clear
"urit of, dry the soil aud weigh 1.-THE
So will amount generally to about pei
ut more than the quantity of lime
present The result will be sufficiently near