Wells on the Soils of the Scioto Valley, Ohio. — 338 
regard a soil analysis, into which their determination does not 
enter, as essentially deficient. 
In the statement of the analyses, the products extracted by 
alcohol and ether, have been given separately. At present I 
am not prepared to say, that bodies of a different constitution 
are extracted by these different solvents. There are, however, 
reasons which induce me to believe this is really the fact, and 
also, that the products so extracted are not mere resins and 
gums, as is generally supposed, but vegetable fat acids. 
This subject, which is entirely new, has been also examined 
by Dr. A. A. Hayes, of Boston, who, I am happy to say, 
agrees with me in the opinions above expressed. 
Among the constituents of these soils soluble in water, 
were found soluble organic matter, (to which Berzelius applies 
the term, “Extract of earth or mould,” and Dr. Dana, of 
Lowell, “Solution of vegetable extract,”) alkaline chlorides, 
lime, magnesia, iron, silica, and organic matter combined with 
these bases. The presence of the first three of these bodies 
Was to be expected ; but the solution of the last three in water, 
in the absence of a mineral acid, and that too in considerable 
quantities, seems to me especially worthy of attention. An 
explanation must be sought for in the presence of the organic 
matter, crenic or apocrenic acid. In the latest published 
works of Mulder, a salt of the constitution, C* H» O^ (apo- 
crenic acid) -+ NH:O + KO + CaO + MgO + FeO, is 
given as soluble in water. 1t is not improbable that the 
extractive matter noticed possessed this constitution. ; 
Appreciable quantities of phosphoric acid and alkalies wí 
found to exist in all the soils examined. The món 
and separation of the first-mentioned agent in a soil, is a mat- 
ter of such difficulty and uncertainty, that unless the result 
obtained has the entire confidence of the analyst, a statement 
of percentage had better be omitted. I think I hazard little 
in asserting, that the determinations of phosphoric acid, ed 
given in a large majority of the soil analyses made in "d 
country, have little or no value. / ie 
were 
