Scientific Intelligence— Agriculture. 367 
finite composition,—it is a confused mixture of various substances, 
perhaps deposited at random from water. This objection, however, 
fortunately only has weight where absolute exactness is required. 
A similar objection applies, in nearly an equal degree, to the ana- 
lysis of rocks, and yet it is found useful to know the composition of 
the feldspars, micas, and granites. Not that it is for one moment 
expected that the morsel of these rocks which may be examined 
agrees with the rest of the rock; the average composition of these 
rocks is the information sought, without pretending to arrive at a 
degree of exactness which does not exist. 
It is the same with the analysis of soils, but with this difference, 
that the mean composition of soils, brought from different situations, 
will often vary to such a marked degree, as to convey nearly the 
same amount of information that would have been derived from the 
analysis, if even extreme exactness had been possible. Having thus 
reduced to its just importance the degree of exactness requisite in an 
analysis of a soil, it must be admitted that its usefulness, thus fairly 
estimated, must be limited to an extent varying with the special 
locality. For instance, in some neighbourhoods the soil will vary, 
most unfortunately, perhaps, half-a-dozen times in one field, whilst in 
others no change can be observed over many hundred acres. In this 
much must always be left to the judgment of the farmer ; and, whilst 
it undoubtedly qualifies the advantage to be derived from the chemical 
analysis of a soil, yet it far from justifies any one in concluding 
hastily that no information is to be derived from it.—Gasparin, 
Cour @ Agriculture, Journal of Agriculture, and the Transactions 
of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, No. 28, 
New Series, March 1850, p. 330. 
9. Noteson American Agricultwre.—The great difference between 
British and American farming is this,—that, while in the former, 
small farms, in the majority of instances, can only be obtained, such 
is their abundance and cheapness in the latter country, that even 
the small capitalist can easily obtain large tracts of land, This state 
of matters, viewed in a superficial way, would lead the inquirer 
naturally to suppose, that to the American farmer it would prove a 
benefit; but that it is the reverse, a cause of much loss of money 
and waste of land and time, the experience of past years has fully 
proved. Scientific educated farmers of America complain, that 
parties get possession of large tracts of land, and, while trusting to 
its extent and the natural richness of soil, they impoverish the land 
by overworking, without corresponding efforts to improve it,—not be- 
ing able to perceive the benefit of thoroughly cultivating one small 
portion, they waste their energies by farming in a slovenly way hun- 
dreds, it may be, of acres. ‘he result is, that the great majority of 
the small farmers in the older States are struggling to make both 
