LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, D. C., April 2, 1886. 



SIR : The iiumerous inquiries received at this office relating to the 

 methods and objects of soil analysis lead tne to believe that an abstract 

 of the present knowledge possessed by scientists on this subject would 

 prove of interest to those engaged in scientific agriculture. 



Quite a number of samples of soil having accumulated in the Labora- 

 tory awaiting examination, I requested Mr. Edgar Kichards to conduct 

 the analyses and to collect the information which is hereby submitted. 

 The following report shows how well he has performed his work. The 

 analyst who desires information concerning the latest methods of analy- 

 sis will find the best authorities mentioned with references to their 

 works ; while the reader who is not a chemist will discover a valuable 

 fund of information about soils and their treatment. 

 Respectfully, 



H. W. WILEY, 



Chemist. 

 Hon. NORMAN J. COLMAN, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, D. C 7 ., March 31, 1886. 



SIR : In submitting the following report an attempt has been made 

 to collect such information on the subject of soils, now scattered through 

 so many different books and periodicals, as will be of general interest; 

 together with the chemical methods that I have employed in executing 

 the analyses of some soils from New York, Louisiana, and elsewhere, 

 during the past year. 



Respectfully, yours, 



EDGAR RICHARDS, 



Assistant Chemist. 

 Dr. H. W. WILEY, 



Chemist. 



