149 



agricultural societies, this state of things must continue. 

 To get lip such a spirit has been and is the aim of 

 the agricultural society of this state. It has thus far 

 struggled through a feeble existence, upheld alone by 

 the exertions of a few s[)iri(ed individuals, headed by 

 the patriotic and intelligent editor of the Cultivator. 

 Under better auspices than we have yet had cause to 

 boast of, the society might flourish and be productive 

 of incalculable good ; but unless a favorable ear is 

 turned to our petitions for aid to the cause, there is 

 reason to fear that, after this meeting, it will be ad- 

 journed to meet no more. 



W. Aug. S. North, Chairman. 



[From Hitchcock's Geology.] 



SOILS, THEIR ORIGIN AND NATURE. 



Before proceeding to exhibit details respecting the 

 soils of Massachusetts, it will be necessary to state my 

 views respecting the origin and nature of soils iu 

 general, and the principles on which they may be 

 clasiT'ified. 



All geologists and chemists agree in regarding soils 

 as the result of the abrasion, disintegration, and decom- 

 position of rocks, with the addition of certain saline, 

 vegetable, and animal substances. Ever since the de- 

 position of rocks, various agents have been operating 

 upon them to wear them down, to cause them to 

 crumble or disintegrate, and often to decompose them 

 into their proximate or ultimate principles, while they 

 have been constantly receiving vegetable and animal 

 substances with soluble salts. The earthy portions, 

 however, always constitute by far the largest part ; 

 and hence, if Vv'e know the composition of the rocks 

 whence they were derived, we shall knov/ the earthy 



