42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



scientific men, both in America and in Europe. They might be 

 multiplied indefinitely. Wc have space for only one more. A 

 gentleman in Maryland, whose cornfield appeared to be in the 

 last stages of consnm])tion, yielding less than one bushel to the 

 acre, applied to a distinguished chemist, who, upon an analysis 

 of the soil, discovered that it contained sufficient lime, potash, 

 magnesia, and organic matter, duly mixed with alumina and 

 sand. One requisite for fertility, only, was wanting. This was 

 phosphoric acid, which was supplied at an expense of ten dol- 

 lars per acre, and the result was a crop of twenty-nine bushels 

 of wheat to the acre." 



Thus, it is seen how science has operated to direct practice 

 to successful ends, through economical channels. In the last 

 named instance, instead of expending ten dollars intelligently, 

 to render his field above average fertility, he might have ex- 

 pended a hundred hij guess, without accomplishing his object. 



On the other hand, it is also true, that there have been in- 

 stances in which practice based on the results of chemical an- 

 alysis has failed to give satisfaction, and it is not difficult to 

 conceive reasons plenty as blackberries, how this might come 

 to pass, without any blame whatever being justly chargeable as 

 the fault of chemical science. As was above remarked, agricul- 

 tural chemistry is itself, as yet, in its infancy, nor is it difficult 

 to suppose that its professors, even when acting fully up to the 

 light they possess, may not always have been so delicate and 

 successful in their manipulations as to detect minute, yet very 

 efficient quantities of elements in their analysis; for instance, a 

 quantity of phosphoric acid, or of potash, equal to a tenth of 

 one per cent., or one grain in a thousand in a soil, will amply 

 suffice to meet the demands of growing plants for these ele- 

 ments for many generations, and yet it is very possible that a 

 one thousanth part of a soil might escape recognition; but ad- 

 mitting the analysis to be perfect, still it is true that there arc 

 many circumstances to affect the fertility of a soil, entirely in- 

 dependent of its chemical composition. A soil may even con- 

 tain all the needful elements of fertility, and in the best possible 

 proportion, and yet be barren. Either saturation with, or de- 

 privation of, water, will prevent production in the most fertile 

 soil. So, too, the mechanical condition of a soil may be such 



