320 ANALYSES OF SOILS. 



Another analysis of soil, taken m the vicinity of the preceding, gave 



Water of absorption 4-00 



Organic matter 3.50 



Silicates .86-86 



Peroxide of iron and alumina 5 • 75 



Carbonate of lime and magnesia trace. 



100-11 

 \ sioihcr specimen, obtained one and a half miles west from llicksville, gave 



Water and organic matter 5 -00 



Silicates 87-06 



Peroxide of iron 2-75 



Carbonate of lime 0-37 



.Magnesia 0-13 



Alumina 4-00 



99-01 



The silicates are principally in fine angular quartz grains. 



It is said that plaster is useless here. This opinion, however, is not supported by sound 

 theoretical view-, bin rests upon defective observation. It is undoubtedly true that its in- 

 fluence is not uniformly the same upon soil at a distance from the seaboard; but here 

 it is said to be unaffected by plaster. It is very probable that plaster is less useful than 

 leached ashes. The ash is constituted quite differently from plaster. In addition to the 

 bases, potash and lime, in combination with silex, it contains soluble silex ; besides, the 

 relation of ashes to moisture is more favorable to vegetation than plaster. Ashes absorb 

 water in greater quantity, and preserve the moisture of a soil naturally disposed to part 

 with this essential element. Vegetable composts with lime and ashes, or muck and turf, 

 provided the expense of procuring the materials is not too great, are the most important 

 fertilizers which can be employed in this district. It is in this form that manure will im- 

 part to the soil the greatest amount of food for plants, and will remain the longest in the 

 surface soil. 



