ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 25 



nearly with the temperature of the atmosphere, proving that any cause which contributes to 

 bring the temperature of the air to this point, or the degree at which vapor condenses to form 

 dew, will also condense the moisture of the atmosphere into mist, clouds, rain, snow, etc. 

 The formation of dew and its influence upon vegetation and soil is an interesting subject, as 

 well as an important one in agriculture. 



W 



ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 



&quot;HILE it is true that an analysis of a soil or of any of its products gives us its 

 component elements with sufficient accuracy for us to theoretically estimate its 

 capacity for production or value in nutritive element, we frequently find such 

 estimates at fault in practical experience. However, this should not cause us to discard 

 analyses of soils or their products, for much benefit has been derived thereby in many ways, 

 and valuable knowledge thus obtained which could not have been derived from any other 

 source ; for while chemistry can do much to unlock the hidden secrets of Nature and show 

 us the means by which she accomplishes certain results, it cannot do everything, and this latter 

 fact should not cause us to undervalue the light and knowledge it does afford us. 



The productiveness of a soil depends much upon its mechanical condition, for although a 

 soil may contain all the elements suited to a luxuriant and healthy plant-growth, if these 

 elements are not in a condition for a plant to assimilate, and thus derive from them its 

 nourishment or plant-food, it is no more benefited by the presence of these nutritive elements 

 in the soil than if they were entirely wanting. For instance, if a soil is hard, or much of the 

 essential substance for the crop production is largely in a coarse, crude state, and not in a 

 condition to furnish the right proportion of the elements in a solvent form, which is the 

 accepted standard of the amount of crop-production in any given soil, we can readily see 

 that the delicate roots of the plants cannot penetrate it or appropriate its various combinations 

 to its use ; and although there may be large quantities of nutrition locked up there, it is 

 practically useless as far as the crops are concerned. Chemistry can separate the different 

 elements, by analysis, and tell us what proportion of each the soil may contain, and what 

 essentials are wanting ; it can instruct the farmer how to test his soils, so that he can easily 

 determine the kind of fertilizers they require to render them productive ; it can tell him the 

 composition of the different plants he cultivates, and thus show him what kind of nutri 

 ment and in what proportion they require to abstract from the soil to produce their own 

 growth ; hence, he will be able to determine what kind of fertilizers to apply. But chemistry 

 cannot tell him whether these elements are in a condition for the plant to derive from them 

 present nourishment ; in other words, it cannot tell him the mechanical condition of the soil; 

 hence, a chemical analysis may often show very favorable results from certain soils, while the 

 practical experience of the farmer in its cultivation may result very unfavorably. On the 

 other hand, a chemical analysis may prove certain soils very deficient in some of the elements 

 which plants require for their food, and yet its texture and mechanical condition generally be 

 so favorable that the roots can easily penetrate it and take up almost entirely the nutrition in 

 store there, and thus favorable results reached in the crop obtained. 



It has also been found that a mixture of clay and sand soils produces much better and 

 larger crops than either the clay or sandy soil alone. Analysis would prove the clay the most 

 abundant in the nutritive elements, and hence, reasoning from that fact, we would conclude 

 that the mixture of the poorer sandy soil would deteriorate the clay soil instead of 

 increasing its productive qualities. This proves that while the chemist can greatly 

 benefit the farmer by his skill in separating and testing the component elements of the soil, 



