320 
ANALYSES OF SOILS. 
Another analysis of soil, taken in 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 
Another specimen, obtained one and a half miles west from Hicksville, 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 views, but 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. 
