72 ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 



It will be perceived that the proportion of lime is less in 

 Table I. than in Table II. 



The soils which have been analyzed have been first dried 

 in the open air before commencing the analysis ; and those 

 in the second table have undoubtedly been prepared in the 

 same way. It, will be perceived that the amount of water 

 retained in the soils, after this exposure, varies, being least 

 in the sandy soils, more in the loamy, and most in the 

 clay soils. This, of itself, is a most important property ; 

 but it becomes doubly interesting when it is considered 

 that the power of absorbing and retaining manures varies 

 in somewhat the same ratio. A consideration of this point 

 will suggest the importance of improving the texture and 

 retentiveness of the soils, by adding clay or mud from the 

 marshes. 



The following is an analysis of a soil from the farm 

 occupied by Downes Edmunds, Jun., near the Cape May 

 Light-house : — 



ANALYSIS. 



Silica 87.506 



Alumina. 3.455 



Peroxide of iron 2.882 



Lime 0.967 



Magnesia 0.753 



Potash 0.736 



Sulphuric acid trace. 



Phosphoric acid 0.155 



Chloride of sodium (common salt) 0.139 



Organic matter 2.594 



Water 1.894 



101.081 

 Ammonia 0.091 



