HY THE PRACTICAL FARMER IflS 



position of his soil, except so far as the silica and 

 alumina, that is, the sand and clay, are separated, and 

 th. 



I may be adopted, in case more 



inibrmation is desired, regarding the especial consti- 

 tuents of a soil. 



1. Take a weighed half pound or pound of the 

 soil, and boil it in water for some hours: rain water is 

 purest Then pour it upon a filter of coarse porous 

 paper, of the kind that druc^gists use f a- 



tions. The mode of managing this op- oe 



acen in any druggist's shop. If the liquid does not 

 come through clear at first, it must be refiltered tiJl it 

 is quite clear. The solution thus obtained is evapo- 

 rated to dryness, and the solid residue burned. It will 

 blacken at first, by the burning of its organic matter, 

 but aAer>^ards will become white again. 



a. It may now be weighed on a small apothecaries' 

 balance, and the weight gives the percentage of in- 

 organic matter soluble in water, that exists in the 



■on. 



h. This portion consists in many soils, for the most 

 part, of sulphates, or carbonafes, of potash and soda. 

 There is also commonly present some chloride of so- 

 dium, or cooimoii salt 



These are all valoable comfinwiHi of a soil; and 

 hence, wherf« an expe rt ww it of Hrit kiad s ho ws suck 

 •olubl. He inferred that tlw 



•oil is V , ortant portion of ili 



ftqmnte safastanceB. 



c The part solut.. ... water is oommoiiljr not 

 large : it amooBli to not more than from aae to tkret 

 per cent, ia many excellent soils. 



& Take another weiehed portion of soil, or the 



same which has mImI in water, and 



heat it with M)i,. JiydriH hluric acid), 



diluted by two or three times its bulk of water. 



17 



