APPENDIX C. 
REPORT ON THE SOILS AND MINERAL WATERS. 
Philadelphia, October 24, 1854. 
Dear Sir : I have completed the examination of the eighteen specimens of soils which you 
forwarded to me; and, although a more thorough examination might he made of them, and 
with advantage, yet the limited time would not admit of it; and perhaps the present results 
may sufficiently meet your designs. 
The annexed Table I, presents the per-centage composition of the soils in an absolutely dry- 
state, together with the numbers and localities by which you designated them. (See Table I.) 
Of Table I, I remark, first, that the amount of lime was determined in all cases where 
there appeared to he about one per cent., hut its presence was proved in all other cases. The 
deficiency in the total column is partly due to ingredients which were only tested for, hut 
chiefly to the carbonic acid united with lime in the soil. In some of them, as in Nos. 1, 5, 6, 
and 17, a portion of the lime only is carbonated; the remainder being united with organic 
matter, except the small quantity existing as sulphate of lime. 
Magnesia, manganese, chlorine, phosphoric and sulphuric acids, were severally tested for, 
but their quantities not determined. Their relative amounts, approximately determined, are 
indicated by the figures 1, 2, and 3. The alkaline test, similarly indicated, is chiefly due to 
lime. The organic matter is, in many cases, too high to express that portion which is generally 
regarded as contributive to fertility ; and part of it is due to fine rootless, which were separated 
with difficulty, and imperfectly. It may be observed, however, that the water originally in the 
air-dried soil bears a proportion to the content of organic matter. 
The analysis of No. 4 shows that it is not a soil, but chiefly gypsum, or plaster of paris. 
The following is a better expression of its composition: 
Dry sulphate of lime. 
Water of the sulphate.. 
Carbonate of lime.,. 
Silica. 
Alumina and oxide of iron. 
Hygroscopic moisture. 
71.23 
18.85 
0.46 
8.44 
0.74 
0.45 
Grypsum= 90.08 per cent. 
100.17 
Since silica forms the frame-work of every soil, I have calculated the annexed Table II from 
the former, so as to compare the several ingredients with 100 parts of silex. No. 4, not being 
a soil, is omitted. (See Table II.) 
The texture of soils is due to their content of alumina and oxide of iron, and the state of 
division of silex and silicates. Since the proportion of the two former varies from 3^ to 6 in 14 
out of the 17 soils, is about 11 in No. 18, and is nearly 3 in No. 14, all except one (13) have a 
good texture. 
In the bases—lime, magnesia, and manganese—the soils are not in general deficient. The 
