276 On Liming Land. 



country. Every farmer should analyze his own soil ;^ 

 that he may be the better enabled to cultivate to advan- 



^ There is an excellent treatise, " on the analysis of soils 

 connected with their improvement," by the celebrated Pro- 

 fessor Davy^ chemical Professor to the British board of agri- 

 culture. This might be read with instruction by one versed 

 in such subjects ; and rendered more intelligible to practical 

 farmers ; though I think it sufficiently plain in the most ne- 

 cessary directions. Our extract from Lord Dundonald in 

 vol. 1. is highly worthy attention, and can easily be practised 

 upon. 



The use of analyses of soils is very properly stated to be, 

 for the purpose of enabling us to find and supply the defect 

 of proportion in the primitive earths. Mr. Davy truly ob- 

 serves— 



" In supplying animal or vegetable manure, a temporary 

 food only is provided tor plants, which is in all cases exhaust- 

 ed by means of a certain number of crops ; but when a soil 

 is rendered oi the best possible constitution and texture, with 

 regard to its earthy parts, its fertility may be considered as 

 permanently established. It becomes capable of attracting a 

 very large porti{3n of vegetabl nourishment from the atmos- 

 phere, and of producing its crops with comparatively little 

 labour and expence." 



It was to encourage our farmers and others in pursuits, 

 having this object in view, that we offered our first premium, 

 in 1806, for " ascertaining the component parts of arable 

 land." This (and most others oi our endeavours to promote 

 a spirit of improvement) has been too little attended to. — • 

 While farmers are regretting the want of dung\ lime^ and other 

 artificial supplies, they overlook materials for permanently 

 fertilizing their fields, to he found on their own farms. 



R. P. 



