SECTION FIFTH. 



ANALYSIS 



CHAPTER I. 



At the time when this book was first written, in 

 1853, it was the very general opinion of scientific, 

 and of many practical, men, that it was within the 

 power of the chemist, by separating the difl'erent 

 parts of the soil, weighing each, to determine wheth- 

 er the soil were fertile or barren ; how long it might 

 continue fertile without the use of manure ; what 

 manm'es were best suited to restoring or preserving 

 its fertility ; and what class of plants it was best fit- 

 ted to produce. 



In this belief, these pages were devoted, very large- 

 1}", to showing the farmer how he could best regulate 

 his operations in the light of such teachings as soil 

 analysis gives. 



As is often the case in the adoption of new discov- 

 eries, a fm-ther acquaintance with the subject showed 



10* 



