190 
magnesia, but for most practical purposes this may be regarded as salts 
of lime. Now if we get the proportion of sand and clay in wliat is left, 
we shall have pretty near the facts of the soil under analysis. The way 
we shall accomplish this is to throw the remainder in a pint of rain wa¬ 
ter ; let it stand a few hours to soften, then stir well up and let the sand 
settle—the fine clay will be suspended in the water. Pour off this muddy 
water, taking good care to pour off no sand; throw more water in, stir 
well up and pour off as before. Repeat till the -water no longer becomes ' 
muddy—the object being to get rid of every thing left but the sand— 
after being thoroughly washed, throw it on a hot shovel to bake off the 
moisture. The dry sand weighs 465—we have washed out by the last 
process 100 grains of clay. Now we can finish our notes—alumina 100, 
silicious sand 465. 
By dividing the several amounts obtained by ten, we have the per 
cent.—that is, the proportion in 100 parts—which is rather more com- 
t prehensive than the greater number, 1000. Thus: 
No. 4. 
Water of absorption. 12.5 
Silicious and calcareous gravel. 5.0 
Humus. 11.0 
Salt of lime. 15.0 
Alumina. 10.0 
Silicious sand. 46.5 
100.0 
From this analysis, simple and rough—very rough though it be—w r e 
have obtained the most satisfactory evidences of the fertility of the soil. 
Any one acquainted with the principal ingredients in good soil, will pro¬ 
nounce this a most exccellent combination of sand, clay and lime, with 
an abundance of organic matter—a soil well adapted to the successful 
cultivation of wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, and in fact, it is well adapted 
to the growing of almost every valuable crop. It works free and light 
under the plow, and will abundantly repay the husbandman for all his 
toils—so says science, and experience proves it to be correct; for this is 
no fancy soil, but an actual analysis of a sample taken from a remarkably 
productive wheat field in Ohio—a field that had produced many heavy 
crops, without any artificial manuring. 
i 
