On the Analysis of Soih. 41 



liappen when the defect of composition is found in the pro- 

 pcwtions of the primitive earths. 



Ill supplying animal or vegetable manure, a temporary 

 food only is provided for plams, which is in all cases ex- 

 hausted by means of a certain number of crops; but when 

 a soil is rendered of the best possible constitution and tex- 

 ture, with regard to its earthy parts, its fertility may be con- 

 sidered as permanently established. It becomes capable of 

 attractino- a very large portion of vegetable nourishment 

 from the atmosphere, and of producing its crops with com- 

 paratively little labour and expense. 



Description of the Apparatus for the Analysis of Soils. See 

 Plates II. and III. 



A. Retort. 



B. B. Funnels for the purpose of filtrating. 



D. Balance. 



E. Argand's lamp. 



F. G,"H, K. The different parts of the apparatus re- 

 quired for measuring the quantity of elastic iiuid given, 

 out during the action of an acid on calcareous soils. 

 F represents the bottle for containing the soil. K. The 

 bottle containing the acid furnished with a stopcock. 

 G. The tube connected wiih a flaccid bladder. I, The 

 graduated measure. H. The bottle for containing the 

 bladder. When this instrument is used, a given quantity 

 of soil is introduced into F ; K is filled with muriatic acid 

 diluted with an equal quantity of water ; and the stopeoctc 

 being closed is connected with the upper orifice of F, w hich 

 is ground to receive it. The tube G is introduced into tfie 

 lower orifice of F, and the bladder connected with it placed 

 in its flaccid state into II, which is filled with water. The 

 graduated measure is placed under the tube of H. When 

 the stopcock of K is turned, the acid flows into F, and acts 

 upon the soil ; the elastic fluid generated passes through G 

 into the bladder, and displaces a quantity of water in H 

 equal to it in bulk, and thh water flows through the tube 

 into the graduated measure ; the water in which gives by 

 its volume the indication of the proportion of carbonic acid 

 disengaged from the soil ; for every ounce measure of which 

 two grains of carbonate of lime may be estimated. 



L. Represents the stand for the lamp. 

 M, N, O, P, Q, K, S. Represent the bottles containing 

 the different rea<reuts. 



VII. £^- 



