No. 63. j 245 



safely conclude that the owner is greatly in want of instruction. 

 These are excellent manures, and permanent in their effects. 



Perhaps some would ask, why are different things necessary to con- 

 stitute a fertile soil] Allow me to answer in the language of Dr. 

 Jackson's Geological [Report on Rhode-Island: "Chemical science 

 arranges all bodies as electro-positive, or electro-negative. The elec- 

 tro-positive are always the alkaline or basic substances, while the 

 acids are always electro-negative when brought in contact with mat- 

 ters of the positive class. If a soil is wholly positive or negative in 

 its nature, it fails to be fertilej and when one power greatly predo- 

 minates over the other, it is not in its most favored condition. Silex 

 is regarded as an acid, and alumina, lime, magnesia, iron, and the al- 

 kalies, are its opposites." 



According to this view, the soil may be considered as a vast gal- 

 vanic battery. " It is rendered nearly certain," says an eminent wri- 

 ter, " that manures act by the salts they contain, acting when brought 

 in contact with the earths in producing galvanic currents," and of 

 course stimulating the plants in their growth. On this subject, how- 

 ever, I give no opinion of my own, because I can comprehend much 

 more clearly the neutralizing effects of acids and alkalies, and the 

 absorbent powers of the different materials. This view may regulate 

 our practice quite as well as the former; and indeed there seems to 

 be nothing discordant between them. 



It is not many years since the existence of acid soils was denied 

 or overlooked. The talented editor of the Farmer's Register in Vir- 

 ginia, was the first to point out the error or oversight; and the subject 

 is now better understood. He furnished no evidence indeed of the 

 presence of uncombined acid; but the circumstantial evidence was 

 very strong and pointed; and in my judgment he fairly made out his 

 case. Since the publication of his " Essay on Calcareous Manures," 

 other writers of great respectability, have either adopted his views, 

 or furnished additional and positive proofs of their correctness. 



The question may occur, why is not an acid soil as fertile as any 

 other ? It is more fertile than any other for such plants as the Red 

 Sorrel; but not for the plants which are the chief object of the far- 

 mer's culture. These generally require a neutral soil — that is, one 

 in which lime, under some form or other, occurs in considerable quan- 

 tity. 



Although clay, according to Dr. Jackson's classification, is arrang- 

 ed as an alkaline earth, yet as such, it is so feeble that when united 

 silica or sand alone, the mass becomes acid, and unfited for our usual 

 crops. On such lands, Indian corn assumes a yellow sickly aspect, 

 even when it is not injured by stagnant water. And what is the 

 cure? Apply lime enough, and then, says an accurate observer, " the 

 young corn takes immediately a deep, healthy color, before there is 

 any perceptible difference in size. The crop will produce from fifty 

 to one hundred per cent more the first year, before its supply of food 

 can have possibly been increased."* And why ? Because the poison 

 which has paralyzed it, was destroyed. 



* Essay on Calcareous Manures. 



