88 GOOD ANALYSES REQUIRED. 



By these, the defect or defects would at once be pointed 

 out, and the most economical remedy indicated. Un- 

 fortunately few are able to procure such analyses 

 readily, and the majority must therefore have recourse 

 to one of the two first methods of examination, or a 

 union of them both. 



I say " good analyses by really competent persons," 

 with the design of hinting that some care is necessary 

 in this matter. A poor analysis is worse than nothing, 

 as it not only involves the farmer in unsuccessful ex- 

 periments, but in their failure throws discredit on the 

 whole cause of scientific improvement. 



Many persons make analyses of soils hastily and 

 carelessly, grudging the time and caution necessary to 

 the obtaining of a good result; and others are really 

 deficient in their knowledge of chemical investiga- 

 tions. In both cases, mistakes without end are usually 

 the only result. 



It is not an easy thing to derive positive or valuable 

 information from imperfect analyses; for they are 

 usually most defective as regards the substances that 

 are present in the smallest quantities, such as phos- 

 phoric acid, potash, soda, etc., the true proportion of 

 which, as has already been explained, it is of great 

 importance to know. 



