276 On Liming Land. 
country. Every farmer should analyze his own soil ;* 
that he may be the better enabled to cultivate to advan- 
* There is an excellent treatise, “ on the analysis of soils 
connected with their improvement,” by the celebrated Pro- 
fessor Davy, chemical Professor to the British board of agri- 
culture. This might be read with instruction by one versed 
in such subjects ; and rendered more intelligible to practical 
farmers ; though I think it sufficiently plain in the most ne- 
cessary directions. Our extract from Lord Dundonald in 
yol. 1. is highly worthy attention, and can easily be practised 
upon. 
The use of analyses of soils is very properly stated to be, 
for the purpose of enabling us to find and supply the defect 
of proportion in the primitive earths. Mr. Davy truly ob- 
serves 
“In supplying animal or vegetable manure, a temporary 
food only is provided tor plants, which is in all cases exhaust- 
ed by means of a certain number of crops; but when a soil. 
is rendered o/ the best possible constitution and texture, with 
regard to its earthy parts, its fertility may be considered as 
permanently established. It becomes capable of attracting a 
very large portion of vegetable nourishment from the atmos- 
phere, and of producing its crops with comparatively little 
labour and expence.” 
It was to encourage our farmers and others in pursuits, 
having this object in view, that we offered our first premium, 
in 1806, for ‘‘ ascertaining the component parts of arable 
land.” This (and most others of our endeavours to promote 
a spirit of improvement) has been too little attended to.— 
While farmers are regretting the want of dung, lime, and other 
artificial supplies, they overlook materials ior permanently 
fertilizing their fields, to be found on their own farms. 
R. P. 
om 
2 
