The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-04
Soils. in speaking Of the value Of a

Soils IN speaking Of the value Of q
chemical analysis, says: There is prob
ably no one subject in connection with
their profession that is SO little under
stood by farmers generally as that Of
the real value to be attached to chem
ical analysis. Indeed, may say that
there is scarcely question that is the
subject Of so much discussion and dis
agreement. even among the agricultur-
81 chemists Of the country as that OF
the real importance to be attached to
such an analysis. One line OF authori-
ties. headed by DR.. Hilgard, the direc-
tor OF the California experiment sta
ZION, relies most strongly upon such an
analysis. while others, of perhaps equal
prominence, at least in other lines, do
not place so much reliance upon 1t. All
agree, however, that something Is to be
gained by careful chemical study OF a
SOIL. Even those who do not agree
wholly with Hilgard concede that,
whilst chemical analysis fails to In
dlcate the exact degree Of availability
OF soil constituents, it will at least re-
veal the approximate total quantity OF
the several constituents present there
in, and in this indicating either the suf-
fciency or deficiency of the several soil
essentials. it proves itself very helpful
to the agriculturist, even though 1t
does fail to show the exact degree OF
availability of single soil constituent.
1t must be conceded that If it does this
only, chemical analysis Is of sufficient
Importance to warrant it's being under
taken, for If it can tell farmer that
his soil contains sufficient quantity
of one element and is probably entirely
lacking in another, it at least AFFORDS
him rational basis for inauguratlnS
series of practical soil-test expert
ments with fertilizers that will enable
him to answer the question definitely
and thus save himself the risk of pur-
chasing and applying certain fertilizers
on particular soil that are not needed
by 1t and that would prove useless
expenditure if applied. 1t will be seen
that the weak point in an analysis is
that, while it reveals what soil actu-
ally contains and in what proportions
lue several constituents are pEeSeuI,
it does not state with absolute accuracy
just how much of that plant food is in
an available form, that is, in form
suited for plant assimilation. This is
an important matter, for, other things
being equal, the actual productiveness
of any soil will depend not so much
upon the total amount of plant food 1t
contains as upon the proportion of that
food which is in an available form. And
until it is possible for an analysis to
reveal with much accuracy the degree
of availability of any plant food essen
tial, it cannot be said that chemical
methods are entirely perfected and ca
pable of furnishing information in all
respects satisfactory. 1t is encouraging
to note that many chemists are at the
present time engaged in perfecting
methods with this object in view.
1t frequently happens that when soils
| are barren their failure to produce Is
due to the presence of certain poison
Gus substances, such as sulphate or sui
phid of iron. When such is the case, a
chemical analysis will reveal the fact
and chemistry will provide remedy.