ON CHEMISTRY. 
9 
ash. If succinate, of ammonia be used, a brown succinate of iron 
wib be yielded; the alumine will pass through the filter, as a solu¬ 
tion of sulphate of alumina. Carbonate of potash will seize the sul¬ 
phuric acid, from this, and throw down the liberated alumine, in the 
form of a light cloudy mass, of a dingy white colour. Let that he 
collected, dried and weighed : weigh also the siliceous earth remain¬ 
ing in the last paper filter, and the analysis by my simple process 
will be complete, as far at least, as refers to the four staple earths of 
the soil. Minutiae must not be attended to, before the analyst be¬ 
come a practised chemist. 
RECAPITULATION OF PROBABLE RESULTS. 
Grains. 
Water of absorption driven off by heat, say . 20 
Do. of lixiviation which contains vegetable extract, 
muriates of soda, and lime say . 20 
Carbonate of lime from the muriatic acid in both par¬ 
cels 15 by 2 ... 30 
Iron from this acid in the form of Oxide . 8 
Siliceous matters of the two united parcels . 276 
Iron from the sulphuric acid . 6 
Alumine from do. . 25 
Loss by washing filter, &c. 15 
Total 400 
When the student shall have acquired some dexterity in the per¬ 
formance of these simple experiments, he will perceive the necessity 
of deeper research: and to conclude with the words of the great 
Davy—he will gain general information by attempting original in¬ 
vestigations. “In pursuing his experiments he will continually, be 
obliged to learn from books the history of the substances he is em¬ 
ploying, or acting upon ; and his theoretical ideas will be more val¬ 
uable in being connected with practical operation, and acquired for 
the purpose of discovery.” 
