No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 181 



one crop is removed by another, so that the soil is constantly occu- 

 pied with plants, which in themselves have a tendency to not only 

 hold, but to gather food, supplying only the minerals which are 

 essential for the needs of the various crops. By this method the 

 lightest sandy soils may be so improved in chemical and physical 

 character as to produce good crops of vegetables, celery, potatoes, 

 sweet potatoes and tomatoes, crops of high value, which could not 

 be grown successfully when the soils could not hold and absorb 

 either water or plant food. 



An experiment in progress for four years in our State shov/s that 

 it is possible with the application of 1,UU() pounds of ground lime 

 and less than |5 worth of minerals per acre to build up the light, 

 saudy soils, and that during the process they will not only pay for 

 cultivation, but produce quite as profitable crops as upon those soils 

 which are regarded as of ii better character. 



The principles applicable to opposite types apply quite as well 

 to all soils that are intermediate, and made up of different portions 

 of the various soil ingredients. If they were observed in practice the 

 lands of the East might yet vie with those of the West in net results. 

 We may in some instances be obliged to supplement our natural 

 resources by artificial supplies of plant food, but with our nearby 

 markets, whose demands for high-class products are never satisfied, 

 farming in the East should be highly profitable. The soils occupying 

 the granite hills, the sandstone plains, and the alluvial meadows of 

 our Eastern states, have been but slightly depleted of their total 

 plant food; they still have sufficient for many generations to come. 

 We have been living upon the results of the activities of the past, 

 not really occupying the land, not knowing how to direct the nat- 

 ural agencies, or forgetting that they are ever ready to serve ua 

 now, and quite as effectually as then. The farmers of Pennsylvania, 

 as well as of all our Eastern states, have still a noble heritage in 

 their soils — "Go ye in and occupy the land." 



WHAT THE CHEMIST HAS FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA 

 SOILS, AND THE RELATION OF CHEMISTRY TO AGRICUL 

 TURE. 



By Dr. Wm. Fkeak, State College, Pa. 



The Director of Institutes, in assigning to me the subject named 

 in the program, has set me the task of discussing a topic about 

 which comparatively little accurate information has been collected. 

 This statement applies particularly to that portion of the subject 

 relating to the chemistry of Pennsylvania soils as distinguished from 

 soil chemistry in general. 



Permit me to call your attention to the magnitude of the problems 

 confronting us in the study of the soils of our great Commonw^ealth. 

 omitting for the present all mention of the difficulties belonging to 

 the general subject of the chemical relations between soils and 

 plants. 



