Solvent Action of Rain Water on Soils. 463 
That many minds and bodies survive many years of literary and 
sedentary pursuits I will admit, with health and prosperity; but 
many more fall victims to the ambition for such lives. Were we 
to consult our own happiness, health and usefulness, we should 
seek lives of bodily exercise and industry productive of the great- 
est good to others as well as ourselves; and among all the avoca- 
tions and pursuits of man best adapted to this end is that of the 
agriculturist. 
Thus have I spoken of the life of the farmer with regard to its 
character, tendency and importance, as well as to its influence 
upon the moral character, constitution, health and happiness of 
man. Canastota, Aug. 16, 1848. 
Solvent Action of Rain Water on Soils. — In the autumn of 
1844, it occurred to John Wilson, Esq., of East Lothian, where 
the system of thorough drainage is very extensively cariied out, 
that the drainage-water during its percolation of the soil must ne- 
cessarily dissolve out and carry away a great portion of soluble 
constituents of it, which by the practice as at present followed, 
are carried off the land and consequently lost to the farmer. He 
accordingly, between that time and the following spring took 
advantage of the fall of rain, subjected several samples of drain- 
age-water he had collected, to chemical analysis, the results of 
which were quite sufficient to show that his conjectures were 
well founded. During the autumn there fell about the usual 
quantity of rain. On the 16th of May, 1845, he collected some 
drainage-water, from a field which had lain plowed in winter 
fallow, having been prepared a few days before for seed, and sown 
with guano and barley. From this sample of water, IS lbs., on 
evaporation, gave 27| grains of solid residue, or about 8-44 
grains to the pound, which were composed of the following in- 
gredients: 
Grain 
Organic matter, &c 7*8 
Silica 07 
Silicate of alumiua, 0*2 
Peroxide of iron 2*25 
Phosphate of magnesia 1'08 
Magnesia 1*69 
Chloride of sodium , 2'615 
Chloride of calcium 2*107 
Carbonate of lime 3*07 
Phosphate of lime 3-01 
Phosphate of alumina 0*45 
Loss 2-088 
27-5 
From the above experiment it would appear to be expedient 
for the farmer to avoid using large quantities of soluble manures, 
at a time, on porus, leachy soils; and instead of giving his land 
sufficient manure to last two or three years, to divide the quantity, 
and apply it in as small a proportion and as frequently as the 
nature of his crops will permit. — Phila. Mag. 
