GRAYLING INSTITUTE. 



319' 



RESULTS or ANALYSIS Off SOILS FROM "THE PLAINS" OF CRAWFORD COUNTY., MICH. 



No. 1.— Soil from O'Dell's farm. Virgin soil: 



Sand and silicates, insoluble in acid 93.661 



Oxide of Iron - 2.100 



Lime 500 



Magnesia 064 



Potash 970 



Soda 470 



Sulphuric Acid 01.5 



Phosphoric Acid 120 



Organic matter containing .08 Nitrogen... 2.100 



100., 

 Capacity to hold water 31 per cent. 



No. 2.— Soil from Metcalf's farm. ^ Cultivated 

 three years: 



Sand and silicates insoluble in acid 93,010 



Oxide of Iron 2.370 



Lime - 340 



Magnesia 090 



Potash 870 



Soda 330 



Sulphuric Acid 020 



Phosphoric Acid 070 



Organic matter containing .08 Nitrogen... 2.900 



100. 

 Capacity to hold water 36 per cent. 



No. 3.— Soil from Steckert's farm. Virgin soil: 



Sand and silicates insoluble in acid 9.5.042 



Oxide of Iron 1.430 



Lime 300 



Magnesia 072 



Potash _ .970 



Soda 210 



Sulphuric Acid 010 



Phosphoric Acid 066 



Organic matter containing .05 Nitrogen. . . 1.900 



100. 

 Capacity to hold water 34 per cent. 



No. 4.— Soil from Hanna's farm. Three years in 

 buckwheat: 



Sand and silicates insoluble in acid 94.206 



Oxide of Iron 2.020 



Lime 320> 



Magnesia 060 



Potash 950 



Soda 280 



Sulphuric Acid 024 



Phosphoric Acid 060 



Organic matter containing .06 Nitrogen... 2.080 



100. 

 Capacity to hold water 33 per cent. 



No. 5. — Soils from Iosco county, two from aban 

 doned homesteads, and the other from the open 

 plain. Soil from Gray's homestead. Virgin soil: 



Sand and silicates insoluble in acid 94.330 



Oxide of Iron 2,160 



Lime 480 



Magnesia 057 



Potash 630 



Soda 140 



Sulphuric Acid .008 



Phosphoric Acid .095 



Organic matter containing .05 Nitrogen... 2.10O' 



100. 

 Capacity to hold water 31 per cent. 



No. 6.— Soil from Dawe's homestead. Virgin soil: 



Sand and silicates insoluble in acid 95.364 



Oxido of Iron 1.200 



Lime 310 



Magnesia .061 



Potash 8.50 



Soda 240 



Si^lphuric Acid 017 



Phosphoric Acid 088 



Organic matter containing .07 Nitrogen... 1.870 



100. 

 Capacity to hold water 32 per cent. 



THE CHEMISTEY OF THE SOIL. 



Much has been written on one side and the other about the value of a 

 chemical analysis of the soil, some claiming that such analysis will settle 

 every question in regard to the capacity of the soil to produce crops ; others 

 saying that it is of no value, and entirely misleading in its teachings. In 

 this, as in most discussions, the truth is found between the extremes. While 

 it is true that a soil may be abundantly supplied with all the chemicals of 

 agriculture and yet be incapable of raising satisfactory crops, it is equally 

 true that in the entire absence of any essential chemical of plant growth, 

 agriculture will fail. By analysis it is determined whether the elements abso- 

 lutely essential for plant growth are present in any soil, and thus settling the 

 question whether the soil is capable or incapable of producing crops under 

 any circumstances. For example, if any land is destitute of lime, potash 

 and phosphoric acid, we know such soil must be unproductive so long as these 

 substances are wanting, and such soil will remain barren until these sub- 

 stances are supplied in some form. If the land contains all the chemicals of 

 plant growth in sufficient quantity, we may safely say that other things being 

 favorable, such land will produce crops. 



One writer seeks to show the impracticability of chemical analysis of the 

 soil by pointing out the fact that an acre of soil taken to the depth of one 



