320 ANALYSES OF SOILS. 



Another analysis of soil, taken in the vicinity of the preceding, gave 



Wator of absorption - 4-00 



Organic matter 3.50 



Silicates 86-86 



Peroxide of iron and alumina — 5*75 



Carbonate of lime and magnesia trace. 



100-11 



Another specimen, obtained one and a half miles west from Hicksville, gave 



Water and organic matter 5-00 



Silicates- 87-06 



Pero.xide of iron 2-75 



Carbonate of lime 0-37 



Magnesia 0-13 



Alumina 4-00 



99-01 



The silicates are principally in fine angular quartz grains. 



It is said that plaster is useless here. This opinion, however, is not supported by sound 

 theoretical views, but rests upon defective observation. It is undoubtedly true that its in- 

 fluence is not uniformly the same upon soil at a distance from the seaboard ; but here 

 it is said to be unaffected by plaster. It is very probable that plaster is less useful than 

 leached ashes. The ash is constituted quite differently from plaster. In addition to the 

 bases, potash and lime, in combination with silex, it contains soluble silex ; besides, the 

 relation of ashes to moistiue is more favorable to vegetation than plaster. Ashes absorb 

 water in greater quantity, and preserve the moisttire of a soil naturally disposed to part 

 with this essential element. Vegetable composts with lime and ashes, or muck and turf, 

 provided the expense of procuring the materials is not too great, are the most important 

 fertilizers which can be employed in this district. It is in this form that manure will im- 

 part to the soil the greatest amount of food for plants, and will remain the longest in the 

 surface soil. 



