arboriculture. 325 



Of Discovering the Qualities of Soils. 



The value of soils to the cultivator, is discoverable, botanically, 

 chemically and mechanically ; that is, by the plants, that grow 

 on them naturally ; by chemical analysis ; and by exterior and 

 interior inspection or handling. 



Of Discovering the Quality of Soils Botanically. 



Plants are the most certain indicators of the nature of a soil ; 

 for while no practical cultivator would engage with land of which 

 he knew only the results of a chemical analysis, or examined by 

 the sight and touch a few bushels which were brought to him, 

 yet every gardener or farmer, who knew the sorts of plants it 

 produced, would be at once able to decide as to its value for culti- 

 vation. For example, the garget and striped maple are generally 

 found on a warm, loamy soil ; the rush on a clayey soil ; the 

 mullein and sorrel on a dry, sandy soil ; and the cranberry on a 

 peaty soil. But these plants, however, are not to be absolutely 

 depended upon, as they are sometimes found in soils directly 

 opposite ; as climate and natural irrigation of plants have much 

 more influence on these plants than mere soils. 



Of Discovering the Qualities of Soils by 

 Chemical Analysis. 



Chemical analysis is much too nice an operation for general 

 purposes. It is not likely that many practical cultivators will 

 ever be able to conduct the analytic process with sufficient 

 accuracy, to enable them to depend on the result. But still such 

 a knowledge of chemistry as shall enable the cultivator to 

 understand the nature of the process and its results, when made 

 and presented to him by others, is calculated to be highly useful, 

 and ought to be acquired by every man whose object is to join 

 theoretical to practical knowledge. If it so happens that he can 



