INDEX. 



CHAPTER I. PAGE 



General Introductory Remarks Influence of Climate Origin of Scientific 



Agriculture Its Progress in America 5 



CHAPTER II. 

 Theory of Scientific Agriculture Formation of the Globe Its Temperature 



Composition of the Earth Its Principal Rocks Chemistry of 

 Vegetation Necessity for Geological Knowledge Remarks on Drain- 

 age and Irrigation 9 



CHAPTER III. 



Minerals Necessary and Injurious to Plant Life How Plants Absorb Their 

 Food The Gases and Their Various Transformations Nitrogen 

 Phenomenon of Nitrification in the Soil Sources of Nitrogen Its 

 Manufacture Its Fixation Its Assimilation The Necessity for Its 

 Application as Manure 13 



CHAPTER IV. 



Phosphates Discovery of their Active Principle Use of Bone Manure 

 Discovery of Mineral Phosphates How They Occur in Nature - Their 

 Form in the Soil How They are Made Soluble How They are As- 

 similated by Plants Migrations of Phosphorus The Necessity for 

 Artificially Introducing Phosphoric Acid as Manure 18 



CHAPTER V. 



Potash : Its Action on the Soil Is it Essential to Plant Life ? Results of 

 Direct Experiments Its Necessity Made Clear Sources of Its Supply 



Lime The Liming of Soils Its Chemical Action Its Absorbing 

 Powers Its Action on Sulphurous Ores Its Action on Iron Alu- 

 mina and Phosphoric Acid in the Soil Necessity for Its Abundant 



Use 23 



CHAPTER VI. 



How Soils Lose Their Nitrogen Table of Proportions Necessity of Soil 



Analysis Table of Physical Elements and Chemical Constituents 28 



CHAPTER VII. 



Physically Perfect Soils Strong and Light Soils How to Amend Clayey 

 Land Clay Burning Treatment of Sandy Soils Green Crops as 

 Manure Remarks on Disintegration " Fairy Rings :" Their Exist- 

 ence Explained How to Keep Pace with the Times 33 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Progress of the Manure Trade in the United States Low Price versus Real 

 Value How the Farmer is Swindled Bogus Manures Necessity 

 for Analysis Demonstrated How to Stamp Out the Evil Advice to 

 Manufacturers ... 38 



