250 
CONSIDERATIONS ON HEATH SOIL. 
been told, we believe that they have met with perplexities which, in a great degree,, 
have led to the substitution of leaf-mould, sand, and decayed turf, for almost all 
the plants in general cultivation, with the exception of the fine Heaths, Epacris, and 
a few other hair-rooted exotics. 
In analyzing heath soils, we employ and recommend the following process ; it is 
simple and interesting : — Collect the purest specimen of such as is generally found 
in the district ; one which is always procurable, and not in any way peculiar : 
reject the roots and hard untractable fibres or pieces of wood. Break it up with 
the fingers, and dry it on paper laid upon a plate of hot iron. Weigh out 
accurately two parcels of twenty-five grains each : place one in a small crucible or 
open stone vessel, and set it carefully in the fire, so that no pieces of coal or other 
extraneous matter fall upon it ; bring it to a bright red, and stir occasionally with 
an iron rod till the black particles disappear ; then remove it ; and when cool, 
ascertain the loss in grains. Put the second parcel of twenty-five grains into 
a small cup or glass, add about a teaspoonful of rain-water, and drop into the cup 
six drops of fuming nitrous acid, and two drops of concentrated sulphuric acid (oil 
of vitriol) ; stir with a strip of glass, and bring the vessel gradually to heat, till half 
the water, or more, pass away in steam : thus, the acids will be concentrated, and 
act energetically upon the free iron of the soil ; the nitrous acid imparting oxygen 
to it, and thereby exalting the efficiency of the re-agent soon to be employed. 
After twenty-four hours, pour a tablespoonful of water into the cup, stir the 
contents, and leave them to deposit the earth. 
The first parcel tested by burning, will indicate the proportion of the sand left, 
to that of the vegetable matter consumed : to that sand, add the water and acids, 
apply heat, and treat them exactly as before directed for parcel 2. 
In the mean time, dissolve ten grains of the salt called prussiate of potassa 
in half an ounce of rain-water ; and if the solution be not bright, filter it through 
white blotting-paper. This is the re-agent ; and the minutest particle of it will 
detect a solution of per-oxide of iron, however diluted, by instantly producing a 
tinge of Prussian blue. In making these solutions, all must be noted, so as to 
avoid confusion : and the clear fluids are to be poured into clean glasses, one 
to each ; then more rain-water is to be added till the sand and earth be washed 
from any remains of acid flavour, the washings being poured into their proper 
glasses. Or each separate parcel may be passed to a paper filter, and washed on it 
till the drops fall free of acid. 
By carefully collecting every grain of sand, and weighing the paper when dry 
before and after filtration, the loss by the action of the acids will be, perhaps, 
traceable ; though we may safely assert, that in heath soil the quantity will be 
generally found exceedingly minute. 
The test, being dropped into the clear fluids, will at once exhibit the presence 
of iron ; of that no doubt will remain ; but the point to be proved, as most 
interesting, is the following : — 
