412 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



cabbage, containing the same constituents as the granite, but diff- 

 erently conditioned, will do so very materially. 



We make an analysis of barn-yard manure, and find a quantity 

 of inorganinc matter ; we may duplicate from the rocks the same 

 constituents, separated from those rocks by the chemist, yet they 

 will not possess the fertilizing powers of the former. 



The same constituents which compose the green granules of 

 the green-sand marls of New Jersey, at Monmouth, may be taken 

 from the rocks in the neighborhood, and compounded in the 

 same relative proportions, but they will not produce the same 

 effect as the marls. Leached wood ashes, which have not only 

 been treated with lime to make the potash'^caustic, but from which 

 the potash has been separated entirely, will produce effects which 

 no analysis of the leached ashes will account for ; in certain dis- 

 tricts the effects are wonderful. Now these leached ashes, on 

 soil which contains a trace of phosphates, are of no earthly value ; 

 but on soil where you can find no trace of phosphates, they show 

 very great effects ; as would the same amount of phosphates taken 

 from organic sources, and applied to that soil. Still you perceive 

 it contradicts the analysis. 



Now this green-sand marl only very recently has been discov- 

 ered, within five or six years, I think, by Dr. Charles Bnderlin, 

 to contain a trace of phosphate ; until that discovery we attribut- 

 ed the whole value of the green-sand marl to its potash. If you 

 separate the green granules of this green-sand marl, by washing, 

 the same way as you would separate gold from its sands, and 

 present to the chemist the powder of feldspar rock at the same 

 time, and ask him to pronounce upon the relative value of the 

 two things as fertilizers, for plants requiring potash, he will 

 report, if he rest upon the result of his analysis, and not upon 

 any knowledge of a natural law apart from that analysis, that 

 the feldspar is the most valuable, while in fact it is worthless ; 

 and the green granules, separated from the green-sand marl, are 

 worth seven cents per pound on any farm in a district requiring 

 potash. I do not mean the whole mass of the niarl, but these 

 separated granules. The feldspar contains the largest amount of 

 potas.h ; but the other contains that which is in the best condition 

 to fertilize plants. 



A farmer presents an ounce of soil to a chemist, who makes an 

 analysis and finds there all the constituents required by plants ; 

 in presenting the result of that analysis, he is really presenting 



