it has been
plowed--until, say a wheel-barrow full, has been obtained. Mix this
well together, and send about a quart or a pint of it (free from stones)
to the chemist. This will represent all of that part of the farm which
has been subject to the same cultivation, and is of the same mechanical
character. If there are marked differences in the kinds of soil,
separate analyses will be necessary.

[Give an instance of the success of treatment according to
analysis?]

When an analysis is obtained, a regular debtor and creditor account may
be kept with the soil; and the farmer may know by the composition of the
ashes of his crops, and the manures supplied, whether he is maintaining
the fertility of his soil.

Prof. Mapes once purchased some land which could not produce corn at
all, and by applying only such manures as analysis indicated to be
necessary, at a cost of less than $2 per acre, he obtained the first
year over _fifty bushels of shelled corn per acre_. The land has since
continued to improve, and is as fertile as any in the State. It has
produced in one season a sufficient crop of cabbages to pay the expense
of cultivation, and over $250 per acre besides, though it was apparently
_worthless_ when he purchased it.

These are strong facts, and should arouse the farmers of the whole
country to their true interests. Let them not call the teachings of
science "book-farming," but "prove all things--hold fast that which is
good."

FOOTNOTES:

[AQ] See Author's card in the front of the book.

CHAPTER II.

TABLES OF ANALYSIS.

ANALYSES OF THE ASHES OF CROPS.

No. I.

------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------+--------
| Wheat. | Wheat | Rye. | Rye
| | Straw. | | Straw.
------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------+--------
Ashes in 1000 dry parts | 20 | 60 | 24 | 40
------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------+--------
Silica (_sand_) | 16 | 654 | 5 | 645
Lime | 28 | 67 | 50 | 91
Magnesia | 120 | 33 | 104 | 24
Peroxide of Iron | 7 | 13 | 14 | 14
Potash | 237 | 124 | 221 | 174
Soda | 91 | 2 | 116 | 3
Chlorin