S7'6' AGRICULTURAI, MUSEUiVJ., 



XVI. Ov THE Improvement of Soils, a<; connscv. 



T ICO WITH THE PrINCIPLF: OF TflDia COMPO-ITION. 



In cases when a barren sy ! is examined with a view 

 to its improvement, it out^iit in a'! ea^es if possible, to. 

 he eomparecl with an cxtrcmch' fertile soil in the same 

 ne.ghborhood, and in a similar situation ; the difference 

 given by thoir anal ^es uould indicate the methods of 

 cultivation ; and thus the plan of improvenjent would be 

 founded upoa accurate scientiMc principles. 



If the fertile soil contained a large quantity of sand, 

 5n proportion to the barren soil, the process of amelio- 

 ration would depend simply mon a supply of this sub- 

 stance ; and the method would be equally sirjple with 

 regard to soils d -ficient in clay or calcareous matter. 



In the application of claj, sand, loam, ma,rle, or chalk 

 io lands,, there are no particular chymical principles (o 

 lie observed ; but when quick lime is used, great care 

 must be taken that it is not obtained from tiie maguesian 

 limestone ; for in this ease, as has been sliewn.hy JMr. 

 IVnnant, it is exceedingly injurious to !and§. Tlie 

 inagnesian Hmestone may be distinguished from the 

 common limestone by its greater hardness, wud by the 

 length of time that it requires for its solution in acids, 

 and it may be analysed by the process for carbonate 

 of lime aud magn* s'a iX 



When the analytical comparison indicates an excess 

 of vegetable matter, as the cause of sterility, it may be 

 <Jestroyed by much pulverization and exposure to air, 

 i)y paring and burning, or the agency of lately made 

 quick-lime. And the defect of animal and vegetable 

 matter must be supplied by animal or vegetable ma- 

 riu: '•. 



^VII. Sterile Soils in different Climates ani» 

 Situations must diffeii in Composjticn. 

 The general indications of fertility and barrenness, as 

 found by chymical experiments, must necessarily differ 



ePtUlosophical TrJns«ftloiu for 1799. »r •" " ' Tllij noar.'tonr )s fcmnil abundi-^^',: j in. 

 jTorksLir*, Biilfthjc, and Sumerieulilre 



