CORRESPOKDENCE AND MISCELLANY. 127 



Second Specimen— much belter Soil. 



f Silex, 74 



I Water, ^ 25 



100 parts contain { Per oxide iron and aluniine,'. .**.'.'.' 5 " 



I Vegetable and animal matter, 15 5 



I Lime, "^ 



It was not examined for phosphates. 



What is interesting to notice in these two samples of soil is that 

 at first view, they look exactly alike, and a person might be de- 

 ceived in the first. On washing it, however, and especially after 

 the action of acids, it is seen to consist almost entirely of a ^rav 

 sand, derived from granite probably, as it is mixed with a few 

 grains of feldspar. 



South Norwalk, May 31, 1845 

 i • . ? SiH-In connection with this I send you a specimen of a 

 cind of soil found at a locality in this vicinity^vhich^some of ou? 

 larmers have lately begun the use of asaman^;^, though bein. k 



orant of its cx)mposit.on and properties they consider^ it onTy an 

 l^xper.ment It may be very common, though I have neve me" 

 '.vith It. I covers an area of some acJ-es, I ^^hould th nk and i ; 

 lep h IS not ascertained. A pole has been sunk in it to th d p h 

 .f twenty feet or more without findi: g bottom. If you are fami 

 •ar with It so that you can inform us what it is; Whether mln" 

 al or vegetable matter, or a mixture of both, without thelabor of 



chemical analysis, it would be a favor. 



Yours sincerely, JAMES H. COFFIN 



rhis IS not properly a soil, hut peat of excellent quality ; and 

 v-here fuel is scarce would be good for that purpose. For ao-ricul ' 

 ural purposes It is of course invaluable, containing about 95 per 

 ent of vegetable matter. Its ashes we have not examined Its 

 reatest benefit is obtained by mixing with ashes, potash or lime 

 pr some tin;e before being applied, or by forming it into a com- 

 ost with animal manures. If ashes are used which have not been 

 ^eched from sixteen to twenty-four bushels (according to the 

 uality) are to be mixed with one cord of peat, and suffered to lie 

 ' a heap for a few days, although it is often put on the ground 

 ^mediately. If potash is used, about thirty pounds are dissolved 

 ^ water, and the same quantity of peat as before wet evenly with 

 • am the most common, and by far the easiest way of using it 



