Improvement  of  Land  by  Warping.  113 
Water 10' 70 
Ulmic  acid  and  nitrogenous  organic  matters  . 2-80 
Peroxide  of  iron 13  65 
Silica 42-50 
Carbonate  of  lime 3-85 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 1*  20 
Alumina 24 ‘25 
Magnesia 1-05 
100-00 
It  will  be  seen  that  in  neither  of  the  above  analyses  has  any 
notice  been  taken  of  the  soluble  salts,  phosphoric  acid,  or  al- 
kalis, although  there  is  but  little  doubt  that  such  must  have  been 
present.  The  fact  is,  however,  that  no  attempt  apparently  was 
made  to  ascertain  their  presence,  consequently  complete  depend- 
ence cannot  be  placed  upon  their  results. 
With  regard  to  my  analyses  of  the  different  crops,  it  is  almost 
superfluous  to  make  any  observations  upon  them,  as  they  may  be 
said  to  speak  for  themselves.  The  only  differences  of  any  conse- 
quence that  are  to  be  observed  are  in  the  proportions  of  nitrogen 
and  phosphoric  acid.  These  are  invariably  much  greater  in  the 
case  of  those  crops  that  were  grown  upon  the  warped  soils  than 
in  those  obtained  from  the  natural  soils ; as  is  also  the  proportion 
of  ash.  For  the  purposes  of  comparison,  & c.,  it  will  be  observed 
that  in  every  instance  in  which  I do  not  myself  happen  to  have 
made  an  analysis  of  the  inorganic  constituents  of  similar  crops 
grown  upon  good  arable  land,  I have  supplied  the  deficiency  by 
giving  one  or  more  of  the  most  trustworthy  that  are  to  be  met 
with  in  other  chemical  works. 
It  not  being  my  intention  to  enter  upon  the  discussion,  so  im- 
portant to  chemistry  and  vegetable  physiology,  as  to  the  limits 
within  which  any  one  of  the  inorganic  constituents  of  a plant  may 
vary,  or  to  attempt  to  prove  the  truth  or  fallacy  of  Prof.  Liebig’s 
theory  relating  to  these  points,  I shall  not  at  this  moment  further 
refer  to  the  subject ; but  shall  leave  it  until  a future  period,  when 
I hope  to  be  enabled  to  do  so  with  more  justice  than  I could  in 
such  a paper  as  the  present. 
In  conclusion,  I cannot  help  expressing  my  warmest  thanks  to 
my  friends,  R.  Thorold,  Esq.,  of  Great  Grimsby,  and  Edward 
Barker,  Esq.,  of  Budleigh  Salterton,  for  the  many  attentions  and 
kindness  they  have  shown  me  during  the  prosecution  of  the  above 
investigation,  and  the  much  important  information  they  have 
afforded  me  upon  the  subject.  In  fact,  it  was  principally  through 
the  assistance  of  the  former  of  these  gentlemen,  and  that  of  his 
steward,  Mr.  Kirkby,  that  I have  been  enabled  to  obtain  the 
requisite  specimens  of  crops,  &c.,  for  the  purposes  of  analysis. 
Thornton  J.  Herapath. 
Mansion  House , Old  Park , Bristol , 
September  2nd,  1849. 
vol.  xr. 
T 
