REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



169 



of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, vol. 1, p. 210, together -^itli their ap- 

 proximate weight per acre to a depth of 9 inches, equal to 32,070 cubic 

 feet, iu tons of 2,000 pounds. 



Table III. — Table showing the specific gravity, tlie xoeight of one cubic foot of different soils, 

 dry and ivet, according to Schiibler, and the approximate xceight per acre to a depth of 9 

 inches (32,670 cubic feet). 



Kind of soiL 



Siliceous saud. occnrrin? in almost every arable soil.. 



Calcareons sand, frequently occurring along -^vitli si- 

 liceous sand 



Sandy clay, a combination of 45 per cent, of tine sand, 

 with 55 per cent, of clay 



Loamy clay, a combination of 34 per cent, of fine sand, 

 ■vf ith 76 per cent, of clay 



Stiff clay, a combination "of 10 per cent, of fine sand, 

 ■with 90 per cent, of clay 



Clay, in the fine pure state, a combination of 58 per 

 cent, of sUica, 36.2 per cent, of aluminia, with 5.8 

 per cent, ferric oxide 



Slaty marl • 



Euuius 



Fertile garden mold - — 



Common arable soil » 



Specific 

 gravity. 



2.653 

 2.722 

 2.601 

 2.5S1 

 2.560 



2.533 

 2.631 

 1.370 

 2.332 

 2.401 



Dry.lbs. Wet.lbs. 



■Weight 1 cubic 

 "foot. 



Weight per acre) 

 inches deep. 



Dry. tons. Wet. tons. 

 ' 2, 22a. 2 



2, 308. 1 

 2, 118. 6 

 2, 027. 2 

 1, 953. 7 



1, 891. 6 

 2, 291. 8 

 1. 334. 6 

 ],CT7.6 

 1, 945. 5 



Thus .10 per cent, of any constituent, such as phosphoric acid, potash, 

 &c., would amount to from 2,250 to 3,500 pounds, in 1 acre of soil 9 

 inches deep. 



QUESTIONS OFTEN ANSWERED BY THE ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 



The results of soil analysis frequently give decided and satisfactory 

 answers, according to Dr. Voelcker,* to the following questions : 



(1) Whether or not barreimess is caused by the presence of an injurious substance* 

 such as sulphate of iion or sulphide of iron, occurring in peaty and clayey soils? 



(2) Whether soils contain common salt, lands flooded by sea water, nitrates or 

 other soluble salts, that are useful to vegetation in a highly diluted state, but injuri- 

 ous when they occur iu land too abundantly ? 



(3) Whether barrenness is caused by the "absence or deficiency of lime, phosphoric 

 acid, or other important elements of plant food? 



(4) Whether clays are absolutely barren and not likely to be materially improved 

 by cultivation, or whether they contain the necessary elements of fertility in an un- 

 available state, and are capable of being rendered fertile by subsoiliug, deep cultiva- 

 tion, steam plowing, and similar mechanical means ? 



(5) Whether or not clays are usefully burnt and used iu that state as manure ? 



(6) Whether or not the land will be improved by liming ? 



(7) Whether it is better to apply lime, or marl, or clay, on a particular soil? 



(8) Whether special manures, such as superphosphates or ammoniacal salts, can be 

 used, of course discreetly, without permanently injuring the land, or whether the 

 farmer should rather depend upon the liberal application of farm-yard manure that he 

 may restore to the land all the elements of fertility removed in the crops ? 



(9) What kind of artificial manures are best suited to soils of various composition ? 



According to the same authority,t chemical analysis cannot supply 

 any definite information iu regard to barrenness of soils on the follow- 

 ing questions : 



(1) Whether barrenness is caused by defective drainage? 



(2) To what extent sterility is affected by a bad physical condition of the land ? 



(3) How far unproductiveness is affected by tne climate ? 



* Journal Royal Agricultural Society, vol. xiv, p. 338. ilbid, vol. 1, 1865, p. 129. 



