THE COMPOSITION OF FERTILE AND BAKREN SOILS. 45 



with in such a journey ; and, without accounting fully for those 

 differences, I will observe that one of the principal causes in opera- 

 tion is the varied composition of the soils. No one who has paid 

 any attention to the subject can doubt that the composition of 

 soils must materially influence their properties, and consequently 

 also their productiveness. I propose to point out to you to-day 

 some of the chemical characters of fertile and of barren soils ; but 

 before entering into detail I would observe that the chemical 

 composition of soils alone does not account for the high fertility 

 of some soils, or the sterility of others ; there are indeed many 

 circumstances to be taken into account if we wish to form an 

 accurate opinion respecting the fertility of land. The chemical 

 composition of the soil is but one element, although an important 

 one, to be considered in forming that opinion. Therefore, prior 

 to pointing out the chemical properties of land, I will remind 

 you of a few circumstances that influence its fertility. 



Circumstances influencing Fertility. 



It is well known that the mechanical condition of soils greatly 

 influences their productiveness ; often land which under proper 

 cultivation would produce good crops, for want of proper tillage, 

 yields but indifferent ones ; and the introduction of improved 

 agricultural implements, with greater attention to the mechanical 

 working of land especially heavy land will no doubt be attended 

 with great advantage. I attach great importance to the mecha- 

 nical working of the land, having seen its value illustrated in 

 various parts of England, for besides improving the mechanical 

 condition of the land it conduces to chemical changes of the 

 greatest consequence to the growth of luxuriant crops. Indeed it 

 is impossible to follow some of the recommendations of Mr. 

 Smith of Lois Weedon, Mr. Mechi, and other advocates for deep 

 culture or repeated ploughing, harrowing, and other processes for 

 working the soil, without augmenting the amount of available 

 food for plants. 



Next, the depth of soil is to be taken into consideration in forming 

 a just estimate of its capabilities, and of the means of improving 

 it. It is very well to suggest deep ploughing, but I could show you 

 land which would be ruined by deep ploughing ; and therefore we 

 should be careful how we condemn any practice prevailing in any 

 particular place. We should never say this is bad farming, or 

 that is good farming, simply because the former does not tally 

 with our preconceived notions of farming, or because the latter 

 agrees with them ; for in farming there is no general rule to be 

 laid down ; you cannot say you must plough 6 or 8 inches deep, 

 you must subsoil, or you must adopt one sort of tillage invariably, 

 on all sorts of lands. It is impossible to do this ; and the farmer 

 who would blindly follow recommendations, even if they proceed 



