Arboriculture. 
67 
A portion of the soil of Sheffield-Place, in Sussex, which was re¬ 
markable for producing flourishing oak, was analyzed by Sir Hum- 
j)hrey Davy, and found to consist of 6 parts of sand, and 1 of clay and 
finely divided matter; ] 00 parts of it, contained— 
Silica,.^54 parts. 
Alumina,.28 — 
Lime,. 3 — 
Iron,. 5 — 
Vegetable Matter,. 4 — 
Moisture,. 6 — 
100 
An excellent turnip soil, he found to consist of 3 parts in 5, of siliceous 
sand; the sand being laid aside, 100 parts of the remaining matter 
consisted of— 
Lime,.28 parts. 
Silica,.32 — 
Alumina,.29 — 
Animal and Vegetable Matter, > i -i _ 
and Water,.> 
100 
\nd an excellent soil, for every purpose, from the neighbourhood of 
’ristol, the analysis of 400 grains of which, is given by Keith, in his 
V^egetable Physiology, vol. 1, page 81, contained,— 
Siliceous,. 
Water,. 
240 grains 
52 — 
Alumine,. 
48 — 
Calcareous Earth, . . 
30 — 
Iron, . 
14 — 
Vegetable Matter, . 
8 — 
Magnesia,. 
2 — 
Lost in operation of Analysis, 
6 — 
400 
These examples, will convey a clearer notion of the qualities 
necessary to constitute a good soil, than any description. The sub¬ 
ject is one equally interesting and important, and I feel that to treat 
it thus superficially, is a very doubtful mode of rendering it properly 
understood; possibly however, this imperfect outline may incite to 
farther inquiry, in which case, I would beg to recommend, the perusal 
of Sir Humphrey Davy’s Agricultural Chemistry; which with Keith’s 
Vegetable Physiology, and Parks’s Chemical .Catechism, should form 
a portion of every gardener’s lending and private library. 
Vegetable Physiology as connected with Arboriculture, will form 
the subject of my next communication. 
I remain, yours, &c. 
Quercus. 
July lOf/i, 1831. 
