L 141 3 



potash and iron, succinate of ammonia, soap lye, or 

 solution of potossa, solutions of carbonate of ammo- 

 nia, of muriate of ammonia, of neutral carbonate of 

 potash, and nitrate of ammoniac. 



In cases when the general nature of the soil of a 

 field is to be ascertained, specimens of it should be 

 taken from different places, two or three inches below 

 the surface, and examined as to the similarity of their 

 properties. It sometimes happens, that upon plains 

 the whole of the upper stratum of the land is of the 

 same kind, and in this case, one analysis will be suffi- 

 cient ; but in vallies, and near the beds of rivers, there 

 are very great differences, and it now and then occurs 

 that one part fa field is calcareous, and another 

 part siliceous ; and in this case, and in analogous ca- 

 ses, the portions different from each other should be 

 separately submitted to experiment. 



Soils when collected, if they cannot be imme- 

 diately examined, should be preserved in phials quite 

 filled with them, and closed with ground glass stop, 

 pers. 



The quantity of soil most convenient for a perfect 

 analysis, is from two to four hundred grains. It 

 should be collected in dry weather, and exposed to 

 the atmosphere till it becomes dry to the touch. 



The specific gravity of a soil, or the relation of 

 its weight to that of water, may be ascertained by in- 

 troducing into a phial, which will contain a known 

 quantity of water, equal volumes of water and of soil, 

 and this may be easily done by pouring in water till it 

 is half full, and then adding the soil till the fluid rises 



