ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 193 



a medium for the circulation of water, and for those chemical 

 and electrical changes which must take place, before the nu- 

 triment could be prepared and introduced into the vegetable 

 organs ; and yielding, by its salts and mineral ingredients, 

 both food and stimulus to growing plants. It was remarked, 

 however, that all soils did not perform these offices with the 

 same degree of fidelity, but a few were fitted, without artifi- 

 cial appliances, to facilitate the vigorous action of the vital 

 principle, and the perfect development of all the vegetable 

 organs. 



We propose now to consider the soil as a specific subject 

 of investigation, to give the modes of its analysis, to point out 

 its chemical and geological character, and the relation of each 

 variety to the cultivated crops. By this method, the intelli- 

 gent agriculturist may learn the nature of his soils, the gene- 

 ral mode of improvement, and howto adapt his crops to such 

 as are fitted by nature or art to yield the most bountiful crops. 



Sect. 1. Analysis of soils. 



The importance of a correct knowledge of the constitu- 

 ents of any soil, appears from the fact, that without it, all ex- 

 periments must be conducted in the dark. 



A w^ant of such knowledge, has given rise to the various 

 discrepant views of farmers, relative to the application of cer- 

 tain salts of lime. Experiments are tried by one farmer, and 

 he is successful; another applies the same substance and 

 fails ; hence we have the most contradictory accounts of 

 nearly every mode of improvement, and the consequence is 

 that, though there are constant improvements, in individu- 

 al cases, no generalization can be made applicable to every 

 kind of soil. An analysis of a soil will indicate at once the 

 mode of treatment. There can be no doubt here, as the most 

 fertile soils of our own and of other countries, have already 

 been analyzed, and their composition accurately ascertained. 



Any farmer, then, who can analyze his soil himself, or pro- 



