Ofi the Afialysis of Soils. 29 



Vauxhall ware : some muriatic acid, and mineral alka- 

 line salt. These being provided, the method of pro- 

 ceeding to ascertain the different proportions of the dif- 

 ferent substances in soils, is as follows : 



The presence of calcareous matter is ascertained, by 

 applying to the mould suspected to contain it, some 

 marine acid diluted with water. If it contain calcare- 

 ous matter, an effervescence will take place, and a neu- 

 tral salt, called muriat of lime, will be formed. This 

 is to be separated from the earthy insoluble matter, by 

 a due proportion of water, and is to be evaporated to a 

 certain degree. Lastly, the calcareous matter is to be 

 precipitated by mild mineral alkaline salt. When the 

 calcareous matter thus precipitated shall be collected,^ 

 washed, dryed, and weighed, the quantity contained in 

 the soil will be ascertained by the proportion it may 

 bear to the weight of the dri/ mould on which the ex- 

 periment had been made. 



The same process and the same acid will serve to 

 shew if magnesia be contained, and the proportion it 

 may bear to the soil. Magnesia is not in general found 

 in any very great proportion in surface mould, although 

 there is more of it contained in ground than is generally 

 imagined. It will for the most part, be found accom- 

 panied by calcareous matter ; and as both these sub- 

 stances, when dissolved by the marine acid, are very 

 soluble, and blended together, a separation is to be ef- 

 fected by the following process. 



The earths of magnesia and calcareous matter are to 

 be precipitated by mild mineral alkaline salt. The pre- 

 cipitate, or earthy residuum, when washed, is to be dis- 

 solved by a due proportion of the vitriolic acid diluted 



