344 Mineral Manures, and the Value of 



the results of more than four hundred analyses of soils, from 

 the northern portion of this country. The analyses of the 

 soils I have made from Ohio, and the analysis of all the soils 

 resulting from the drift agency, do not differ materially, so 

 far as regards their inorganic constituents. That is to say, 

 the soils of Ohio, yielding with little or no culture from sev- 

 enty to eighty bushels of corn to the acre, are no better, so 

 far as their mineral composition is concerned, than many of 

 the Massachusetts soils which have a reputation for sterility. 

 Slight differences it is true, exist, but not to such an extent 

 as might be supposed from contrasting their relative products 

 of the different soils. In what then is there a reason for 

 their difference in value to be found ? It cannot be in the 

 attributes in which they agree — which are their mineral con- 

 stituents, but in the attributes in which they differ; and 

 these are the amount and condition of the organic matter 

 contained in the soils, and the fineness of their elementary 

 particles. 



These conclusions, if of any value, may show to the agri- 

 culturists of New England, the necessity for the thorough 

 breaking and pulverizing of the earthy particles, and for the 

 preservation, preparation, and proper application of organic 

 manures, the produce of the farm-yard and the muck-beds. 

 These suggestions are not new ; they are the results of the 

 experience of ages, and of the observations and experiments 

 of every practical farmer. The agricultural tendency of the 

 present day is toward mineral manures ; — I would not under- 

 value them, but at the same time I wish that the old notions 

 respecting thorough tillage, and the value of barn-yard prod- 

 ucts, — notions, the value of which experience has taught, and 

 which all scientific investigations are now confirming, — may 

 not be underrated or undervalued." 



The concluding remarks of Mr. Wells, are that portion of 

 the article to which we would ask particular attention. In 

 our paper above referred to, we stated that Dr. Dana had 

 pronounced it a fourth leading principle of agricultural 

 chemistry, that " soils contain enough of all the mineral 



