CHEMICAL REPORT.



  The method of analyses of the soils does not vary much
from that described in volume III of the Kentucky Geological
Reports. The principal object was, as there stated, to obtain
comparative results, which would enable the scientific agricul-
turist to form an opinion as to the chemical constitution of our
soils in their relation to husbandry; without attempting to
perform the almost hopeless task of giving all the minuter con-
stituents of each, or of presenting all those physical conditions
which exert so great an influence on their practical fertility.
To this end the several soils were treated as nearly alike as
possible: air-dried together, digested for an equal time at
nearly the same temperature in acid of a uniform strength,
&c., &c. The specific gravity of the chlorohydric acid used
being about I.Io.
  The process of digestion in water, containing carbonic acid,
was not employed in all, because of the press of work in the
laboratory, mainly. There can be no doubt, however, that, used
with proper care, this process will indicate the relative propor-
tion of soluble plant food in the soil at the time. As this may
very well vary, under different physical atmospheric conditions,
it was not considered of essential value in the comparative
analyses.
  The well-known fact that various p/zl sical conditions exert a
powerful influence on the productiveness of soils which have
a sinmilar chemical composition. has, in recent times, singularly
perverted the minds of chemists, and consequently of agricul-
turists, in relation to the value of soil analyses.  Because the
chemnical conditions of a soil are not the only ones necessary to
productiveness, they have, by a perverted logic, jumped to the
conclusion that these conditions are of no consequence what-
ever.
  But if these chemical conditions are indispensable to the fer-
tility of the soil, how much injury has been done in recent
years to the scientific study of the soil and of agriculture, by
the great outcry which has been raised against this kind of
investigation! The comparative chemical examination of the
soils of a State or country can only be made under the patron-
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