REQUIRED IN CONDUCTING ANNLYSES. 191 



bodies which make up the bulk of soils; but when 

 they come to the most important part, the detection 

 and separation of these small quantities, they proba- 

 bly either fail to find them at all, find them when they 

 are not there, or find altogether too much. 



In view of the foregoing remarks, how inconsiderate, 

 and how unwise, are the statements of those who would 

 lead the farming community to think that each 

 man is in a short time to acquire the skill to deter- 

 mine all problems of a chemical nature, that may 

 present themselves in the course of his experience. It 

 is true that there is nothing mentioned above, which 

 can not be acquired by any intelligent man, but he 

 can only accomplish it after a long course of study. 

 When he has gone through with this course, still other 

 difficulties present themselves; to make perfect ana- 

 lyses, he requires a laboratory, and rather expensive 

 apparatus of various kinds. 



A good analysis must have his undivided attention, 

 and even then will occupy him not less than from ten 

 days to a fortnight; and Avhat is to become of his 

 farm in the mean time? On the other hand, if he 

 devotes himself actively to his practical pursuits, as 

 every good farmer must, for at least a large part of 

 the year, his chemical knowledge rusts, and he soon. 

 loses his facility and aptitude for making reliable 

 analyses. 



The truth is, that the two pursuits are dissimilar: 

 the chemist may and should know much of practical 

 agriculture, but still his main business must be che- 

 mistry; the farmer may and should know much of 

 science, but his daily occupation must be in the field 

 His leisure time may be most agreeably and profitably 

 employed in gaining scientific knowledge, but the 

 business of analysis, and accurate chemical investiga- 

 tions, must be left with those who are trained to it* 



