72 Power of Soils to Absorb Moisture. 
would be most likely to be profited by such observations, would 
not have the time and means to make them. 
The power soils have to obsorb moisture by cohesive attraction 
has been previously shown to be intimately connected with their 
fertility. K this be true — which all the observations we have 
made go to confirm— then a knowledge of this power must be of 
much practical utility. Now the method by which the quantity 
of water a soil is susceptible of taking up is determined, is very 
short, simple, and easy, requiring but little time and labor. All 
the apparatus that is necessary is a pair of scales and a water 
bath, though the latter might be dispensed with. The observa- 
tions can be made in winter as well as summer; in fact, at any 
season of the year. By it you can determine the absorbing and 
and retaining powers of soils with as much precision as if you 
had determined them directly by means of evaporation and the 
hygrometer, since the absorbing and retaining powers of soils are 
as the amount of water which they are susceptible of taking up. 
Amount of Water talcen up by different Specimens of Peat. 
Peat from the farm of Mr. E. Ball, of Hoosick, Rensselaer co. 
100 grains saturated with moisture gave of 
Water, 7M09 
Dry matter, 28-891 
100-000 
100 grains of the dry matter, on analysis, gave of 
Organic matter, - , - , 56*00 
Silex, 26-00 
Peroxide of iron and alumina, - - 8*00 
Carbonate of lime, ... 9-00 
Magnesia, - , . - - l-OO 
* 100-00 
Before burning, soluble in water, 
Carbonate of lime (crenate), - - 1-93 
Magnesia, 0-34 
•Analysis madB by Mr. C. Ball. 
6-30 
