AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



33 



plants, so as put within their reach an ample supply of every 

 soluble substance which is not really defective in the soil. Prac 

 tically, this principle is of great importance in manuring and 

 draining. 



The relative capillary power of soils has not yet been thor 

 oughly tested ; but, generally, in sandy and light soils, of which 

 the particles are very fine, this capillary action is of great impor 

 tance, and is intimately connected with the power of producing 

 remunerating crops. 



112. The following analyses are given as examples of various 

 classes of Soils : 



I. CLAY -.Three specimens from the Zulder Zee, in the Netherlands 

 (E. H. von Eaumhauer. ) 



First. 



Second. 



Third. 



Insoluble quartzose sand, with alumina 

 and silica, ... 



Soluble silica, ... 



Alumina, - 



Peroxide of iron, 



Protoxide of iron, ... 



Protoxide of manganese, - 



Lime, .... 



Magnesia, ... 



Potash, .... 



Soda, - - 



Ammonia, - 



Phosphoric acid, - 



Sulphuric acid, ... 



Carbonic acid, ... 



Chlorine, .... 



Hurnic acid, ... 



Crenic acid, - 



Apocrenic acid, - 



Humin, vegetable remains, and water 

 chemically combined, 



Wax and resin, 



Loss, 



8.324 

 trace 

 0.542 



7.700 

 trace 

 0.611 



9.340 

 trace 

 0.753 



100.000 10U.OOO 100.000 



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