24 WALL'S M A N u A L 



generally form only a small portion of the whole 

 mass. The classes we propose are 



1. Sandy soil; such as have at least seventy- five 

 per cent, of sand. The quantity of sand may be 

 determined with considerable accuracy by very simple 

 means, Dry and weigh a pound of soil, and put it 

 into a vessel which will hold a gallon or two of water-. 

 Pour clean water over it^ and stir it up thoroughly, 

 then pour the water gradually off. The sand will 

 sink on account of its weight. 33y repeating the 

 Washing with portions of clear water, Until the water 

 passes off clear, the sand alone will be left, and may 

 be dried and weighed, and the quantity of sand in a 

 pound of soil determined. 



2. A sandy loam is a soil which contains fifty to 

 seventy- five per cent, of sand, which may be separated 

 and determined as above* 



3. A clay loam has twenty- five to fifty per cent* of 

 sand, and the remainder chiefly clay, 



4. A clay soil has less than twenty- five per cent, of 

 sand, the remainder chiefly clay. The dark red clay 

 soils have a large per cent, of oxide of iron, 



5. Any soil containing ten per cent, of lime or 

 more, may be considered a limy or calcareous soil, 

 whether remainder be clay or sand, or both. To 

 determine the amount of carbonate of lime in the soil, 

 heat two ounces of well dried soil, on a piece of sheet 

 iron, or in an iron ladle, till the vegetable matter is 

 burnt out* Then pour over it a pint of water, and 

 add a fluid ounce of muriatic acid. The acid will dis- 

 solve the lime, while it will dissolve very little else 

 from the mass. Wash the earth with clear water 

 several times, take the remainder, dry and weigh it, 



