Economical Geology of Massachusetts. 369 



A tabular view is given in the report of 125 analyses of soils, 

 conducted on the principles above laid down. The first column 

 of the table gives the soluble geine, the 2d, the insoluble geine, 

 the 3d, sulphate of lime, the 4th, the carbonate of lime, the 5th, 

 the phosphate of lime, the 6th, the granitic sand, the 7th, the 

 moisture absorbed in 24 hours by 100 grs. of the soil previously 

 heated up to 300^ F., the 8th, the absorbing power in propor- 

 tional numbers, and the last, the specific gravity of the soil. 



Notwithstanding the expedition with which examinations ac- 

 cording to the foregoing rules are capable of being made, we can- 

 not but express our astonishment at the zeal and patience with 

 which the author must have labored in order to bring forward so 

 many results. And whatever may be the value which the chem- 

 ical reader may attach to the formula by which they are conduc- 

 ted, taken as a whole, still, in regard to the columns of organic 

 matter, of absorbing power and specific gravity, no objections are 

 likely to be urged. 



Of Dr. Dana's hypothesis respecting the state in which vegeta- 

 ble and animal matter exists in the soil, and the changes through 

 which it passes before being taken up by the roots of the plants, 

 it is exceedingly doubtful whether the progress of organic chem- 

 istry will ever raise it to the character of chemical theory. Re- 

 cent researches would rather lead us to regard soluble geine as 

 composed of at least three vegetable acids, viz. the crenic, apo- 

 crenic, and ulmic, together with a black matter called by Her- 

 mann (Journ. d' Erdm. t. 12, p. 277,) earthy extract: while the 

 insoluble geine is ulmic acid mingled with undecomposed veg- 

 etable remains. Hermann gives the following view of the con- 

 stitution of the above acids. 



Crenic. Apocrenic. UJmic. 



Carbon, 535. (= 7atoms.) 1070.1 (= 14 atoms.) 6190. 



Hydrogen, 99.8 (=16 " ) 87.3 (=14 " ) 431. 



Nitrogen, 88.5 (= 1 " ) 265.5 (= 3 " ) 1105. 



Oxygen, 600. (= 6 " ) 500. (=3 " ) 2274. 



1323.3 (combining weight.) 1722.9 (combining wt.) 10000. 



What therefore Dr. D. considers a simple salt, (a geate,) is more 

 probably a family of salts, viz. a crenate, an apocrenate, and an 

 ulmate, with the addition moreover of earthy extract. How these 

 principles become the nutriment of plants is yet far from being 



Vol. XXXVI, No. 2— April-July, 1839. 47 



