OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 223 
soil begins to exhibit signs of exhaustion, application is made to the chemist to determine what is 
the matter, or to find out if some little ingredient is not wanting, that may be supplied without any 
trouble or expense. And supposing that this wanting ingredient be discovered, how is it to be pro- 
cured? Lime is almost the only substance that we, in this country, can afford to apply in an iso- 
lated state. The course to be pursused is obvious: we must study the composition of the failing 
crop, and add such manures as we know, by their composition, to contain the greatest number or 
quantity of the elements of the crop, trusting that although not absolutely wanting, the others will 
not be lost. This, and the development, by proper means, of such substances as may already exist 
in the soil, are, I conceive, the only rational remedies. 
We are, fortunately, in possession of a vast amount of information relating to the chemical com- 
position of cultivated plants, and it will be interesting to present here the analyses of some of those 
that constitute our principal crops. 
ANALYSES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 
The following is the analysis of the cotton plant, from the Santee, made under the direction of 
the Black Oak Agricultural Society, by Prof. Shepard.* 
; Cotton Wool. 
Carbonate of potassa, (with possible traces of soda).__-44.19 
Phosphate of lime, with traces of magnesia..------..- 25.44 
G@arbonate:o® lime:a= 2)/s< He esse) ee A ese cen. 8.87 
@arbonate of magnesia<= 222-3. 22 =o b see 2. 5 6.85 
Silicate oes Sh ener ee Bee eat 4.12 
Alumina (probably accidental)... ....---.----------.- 1.40 
Sulphatesoh potassa2=- 22a 38 wee woe ae 2.70 
Chloride of potassium. -- -.--- 
Chloride of magnesium- ------ 
Sulphate of lime... ._--..-- SNOW OSS. = ane Seems 6.43 
Phosphate of potassa--.------ 
Oxide of lime;in minute traces- 100.00 
“But since it is obvious that the carbonic acid in the above mentioned salts must have been 
derived during the incineration of the cotton, the following view will more certainly express the 
important mineral ingredients abstracted by the cotton from the soil for every hundred parts of its 
ash. 
Potassa (with possible traces of soda)...------------- 31.09 
1M Cents oe aes se aes wia owes = 2 17.05 
WWatrrentsy. Sas to the Se SR oe cee oe ao ae 3.26 
Phosphonte acid <=. 2. eae a seen aan aes see 12.50 
Sulphuric acid.._.._-- RO Oe shoe A 1.22 
64.92 
* Report to the Black Oak Ag. Soc. 
This society has set a noble example in leading the way in the progress of agricultural science in the State, and has already 
accomplished more than could result from the agricultural dinners and speeches of a century. It is the only society within my 
knowledge that keeps a meteorological journal; and I very respectfully suggest to the Secretary to add notes on the variation of 
the line of brackish water in the rivers, in connection with the amount of rain fallen. The progress of marine and brackish water 
mollusks up the rivers from the coast offers a pretty good index. Petricola pholadiformis and Sanguinolaria fusca ave found as high 
as Bee’s Ferry, on the Ashley. 
