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ANALYSIS OF SOILS 
Analysis of soil from Glensfalls, Warren county. 
This soil is sandy, and consists of an extension of the lands passing through Albany, 
Schenectady and Saratoga counties. 
First process. Second process. 
Organic matter_ 6-60 O'60 
Silica and silicates_ 86*94 69*44 
Peroxide of iron and alumina (free)_ 4*25 0*00 
do (combined)_ 0*00 15*00 
Carbonate of lime_ 1*50 0*00 
Lime combined_ 0*00 2*50 
Magnesia (free)_ trace. 0 • 00 
do (combined)_ 0*00 trace. 
99*35 86*94 
Phosphates..... 0*31 
Soluble silica._a large trace. 
This soil is still more remarkable for the great amount of combined alumina, iron and 
lime ; and its analysis explains in part the fact why this sandy range of country is pro¬ 
ductive and durable, yielding at least moderate or respectable crops of maize for many 
years in succession. It contains more mineral food for plants than an inspection of the 
soil would lead us to suspect. 
Analysis of peat from JFIoosic falls. 
From a farm owned and cultivated by Mr. E. Ball. 
Organic matter_56*00 
Silica___26*00 
Alumina and iron_ 8*00 
Carbonate of lime_ 9*00 
Magnesia_ 1*00 
100*00 
Amount soluble in water. 
Carbonate (crenate)_ 1*82 
Magnesia_ 0*34 
2*16 
The above specimen of peat is probably one of the most valuable manures which the 
farmers of the neighborhood can employ, containing a large quantity of the silicates ( not 
sand ), in a state ready to be used by plants. 
It seems, from the several analyses which we have made of the peats from different parts 
of the country, that a great difference of composition exists ; some consisting of organic 
matter, with a very small amount of inorganic; while others, as in the instance above, 
contain a large amount of inorganic matter, a considerable proportion of which is in 
combination with organic acids. The latter kind is by far the most valuable : hence it is 
