90 



ANALYSIS OP SOILS, 



I found the foil taken from a field at Sheffield-place in Suffex, 



remarkable for producing flourifhing oaks, to confift of fix 



parts of land, and one part of clay and finely divided matter* 



And one hundred parts of the entire foil fubmitted to analyfis, 



produced 



Parts. 



Water ..... 3 



Silex .*--.- 54* 



Alumine - 28 



Carbonate of lime ... 3 



Oxide of iron .... 5 



Decompofing vegetable matter - * 



Lofs 3 



XX. Advantages of Improvements made by changing the Com* 

 pofition of the earthy Parts of Soils, 



Soils rendered From the great difference of the caufes that influence the 

 fertile by chang- produaivenefs of lands, it is obvious that in the prefent ftate 



mg the compofi- r , , ' * . . 



of Icience, no certain fyftem can be devifed from their im- 

 provement, independent of experiment ; but there are few 

 cafes in which the labour of analytical trials will not be amply 

 repaid by the certainty with which they denote the bed 

 methods of amelioration ; and this will particularly happen, 

 when the defect of compofition is found in the proportions of 

 the primitive earths. 



In fupplying animal or vegetable manure, a temporary food 

 only is provided for plants, which is in all cafes exhaufted by 

 means of a certain number of crops ; but when a foil is render- 

 ed of the belt pofiible conftitution and texture, with regard 

 to its earthy parts, its fertility may be considered as per- 

 manently eftabliihed. It becomes capable of attracting a very 

 large portion of vegetable nourifliment from the atmofphere, 

 and of producing its crops with comparatively little labour and 

 expence. 



rion of the 

 carrhy parts, 

 are more per- 

 manent than 

 manured foils. 



Apparatus for 

 c*£eriments» 



Dcfcription of the Apparatus for the Analyfs of Soils, 



A. Retort. 



B. B. Funnels for the purpofe of filtrating. 



D. Balance. 



E. Argaim's lamp. 



F. G, H, K. The different par's of the apparatus required 

 for meaning the iiuantity of elaftic fluid given out during 



tho 



