1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
363 
will affect the present crop; under the second, for a sup¬ 
ply which will be partially available by the next year; 
and under the last, we see stores which will ultimately 
come into use, though not to be considered as producing 
much effect at any one time. 
Following these principles, we perceive that the soil A. 
has 2.470 per ct. soluble in water, while the soil B. leaves 
no more than 0.147 per ct., or about one-17thas much. 
Of magnesia, manganese, and chloride of sodium, there 
is none; of the phosphates almost none, and of the sul¬ 
phates almost none. The alkalies, too, are not much 
more than one third, and lime but about l-50th. These 
are most striking and important differences, and show 
very clearly how little the plants in the soil B. have to 
depend upon for their immediate sustenance, when com¬ 
pared with those in the soil A. 
If we also compare the portions soluble in acid, we find 
that B. has more which is capable of solution, than A. 
On closer examination, however, it appears that this su¬ 
periority is chiefly owing to the fact that a larger per 
centage of iron and alumina, that is of the less valuable 
substances, has been dissolved. Lime is also in greatly 
increased quantity, but magnesia is much diminished, the 
alkalies are smaller, and phosphoric acid is but about 
l-30tli. 
In the last, or insoluble part, we still find the superi¬ 
ority with the soil A., by reason of its far greater per 
centage of lime and of magnesia. This soil. then, is su¬ 
perior in every respect,not only in its supplies for imme¬ 
diate use, but in its stores for the wants of future crops. 
It is, however, in the water solutions, that the most stri¬ 
king difference is manifested. By comparing these in the 
two soils, the inference may be at once drawn, that the 
soil B., through constant and long continued cotton crop¬ 
ping, has been specially exhausted of its alkaline phos¬ 
phates . The same kind of exhaustion is apparent, al¬ 
though in a less degree, in the portion soluble in acid. 
A rough analysis of these soils would not have given 
satisfactory results, for the quantities in which the most 
decisive differences are shown, are the least of all, and 
could only be determined accurately in a very carefully 
conducted analysis. These determinations are all veri¬ 
fied, and therefore afford as they stand, a beautiful illus¬ 
tration of the proposition with which this letter com¬ 
menced ; that the carrying of our results to even very 
minute accuracy, only brings out the more striking dif¬ 
ferences, and gives us new confidence in this department 
of chemical anlysis. 
From the study of these analyses, I was led to the 
conclusion that the cotton plant drains heavily upon the 
alkalies and phosphates of the soil, and therefore recom¬ 
mended the application of manures rich in these sub¬ 
stances, to the soil B. 
Since that time Mr. O. Judd, has made in my labora¬ 
tory, an analysis of the ash from a cotton stalk, procured 
by him in Mississippi. His results being all duplicated, 
must approach very closely to the truth. The quantity 
of ash found by him was 3.141 per cent, there being 
nearly half a per cent more in the top than in the bot¬ 
tom of the stem. The results of analysis give the fol¬ 
lowing as the composition of this ash. 
Ash of Mexican Gkeen Cotton Plant. 
Charcoal and Sand,. 3.76 
Silica,. 2.64 
Lime,... 19.82 
Magnesia,. 3.04 
Carbonic acid,.. 14.32 
Phosphoric acid,. 28.40 
Chlorine,. 0.53 
Sulphuric acid,........ 2.88 
Potash,. 24.09 
99.48 
This is an examination of but a single stalk, and a 
single variety of cotton, but it is nearly certain that other 
stalks, and other kinds, although there may be a certain 
range of difference, will yet agree with it in their chief 
features, and in the character of their leading substances 
We may then with much probability, consider this analy¬ 
sis as presenting the general composition of the cotton 
stalk. A glance at the column of per centages, will 
show, that the predominating ingredient is the alkaline 
phosphates; the phosphoric acid and the potash together, 
amount to 521 per cent. If we substract the sand and 
charcoal, which are accidental impurities, this propor¬ 
tion will be still farther increased. 
We have here only the ash from the stalk; that from 
the seed would beyond a question show a still larger pro¬ 
portion of alkaline phosphates; these then are clearly, 
so far as our present knowledge goes, the leading sub¬ 
stances in the ash of the cotton plant. This agrees pre¬ 
cisely with the conclusion I had previously formed, from 
the comparison of a worn out and a fresh unexhausted 
cotton plantation. 
The two tables compared above, point with perfect 
distinctness to the same thing, and while they thus agree 
in the indication of a most important fact to the planter, 
they support each other in the vindication of properly 
conducted, minutely followed, and even elaborate soil 
analyses. 
Such analyses will doubtless present more problems 
than those that are less complete, and will require a 
wider range of knowledge for their entire comprehension 
and explanation; but at the same time they furnish to 
the instructed eye, data which lead to the most valuable 
conclusions, and also help to extend the range of our 
really scientific agriculture. Yours truly, John P. 
Norton. 
Growth of Wood. —The season of the year in which 
forests are cut off, is believed to have an influence on 
the succeeding growth. To give some test of this mat¬ 
ter, the Plymouth county (Mass.) Ag. Society, offered 
premiums, several years since, for experiments. A re¬ 
port was made last year, which sets forth the conclusion 
that —“ the nearer the season of the ascending sap, 
[spring,] wood is cut, the more flourishing will be its 
succeeding growth.” The person who received a pre¬ 
mium for this experiment, states that he is “ satisfied 
that the nearer the ground wood is cut, the better; the 
shoots will start and grow more thrifty, and are thicker 
and less liable to split down. By cutting wood often, 
you insure not only the greatest growth of wood but the 
greatest growth of money. Cattle should never be suffer¬ 
ed to run on a wood-lot, while the trees are small.” 
