550 [AsSEMBiY 



although such applications may pay on some farms, ancf probably 

 do pay well on all market-gardening operations. 



The objection to soil analysis is this : 



The difference between the early soil of Virginia and the same 

 soil in its present condition, has been made by the loss of 1,200 

 lbs. of alkalies to the acre. But this 1,200 lbs. forms not quite 

 three- ten-thousandths (000.27) of the soil to the depth of a foot. 



The idea that any amount of variation within such infinitessi- 

 mal limits can be measured and defined by quantitive analysis, is 

 absurd. Top-dressing of the same amount would, in the same 

 way fail of being detected. 



That directions given by agricultural chemists have led to suc- 

 cessful results, is undoubtedly true; but these directions have 

 been founded rather upon experience and observation than upon 

 chemical analysis. 



It is scarcely necessary to add that so far from apologising lor 

 any unnecessary waste of fertilising materials, it was the object of 

 that paper to advocate such policy as will save and appropriate 

 the greatest aggregate amount of the manures produced in the 

 country, and effect this at the least expense. It is also encour- 

 aging to notice that those new avenues of internal communica- 

 tion that are opening to us the great fields of the west, and supply- 

 ing us with its cheap products, are at the same time extending the 

 area over which manures may be profitably distributed from the 

 cities. 



Prof. Mapes, said that Mr. Munday, of New- Jersey, had just re- 

 turned from California, and brought with him some specimens of 

 the extraordinary growths of that singular country. There are 

 oat stalks of nine feet high ; potatoes of several pounds weight , 

 barley 149 23-50 to the acre ; wheat 82^ bushels an acre. 



Mr. Chambers : B. P.Johnson, Esq., Secretary of the State Ag- 

 ricultural Society, presents some cuttings of the large and fine 

 grapes of California. 



