HOME ANALYSIS OF SOILS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2859, 30 December 1908, Page 8

HOME ANALYSIS OF SOILS.

Ihe amount of eand, silt, clay, and humus in a foil may easily be determined (=aj» the Hawkesbury Agricultural College Journal! by a simple mechanical analysis, though not as exact as when made in the laboratory. First examine the soil sample closely in the hand, .then with a lens. Note tho colour and look for dark particles of humus. Rub a portion between the fingers to determine the texture and size of particles. If emooth it is mostly clay and eih. Moisten a quantity and squeeze it hard. If it retains its shape after releasing pressure, tho .soil contains much clay and eilt, and musl bo worked carefully; if friable it contains much humus and sand. A more exact form of analysis ie as follows : a quart of moist soil as it comes from the field, screen out coarse particles and weigh carefully. Spread thinly on pan, and place in oven or on back of stove, and allow to dry. Weigh when dry, and calculate the water content. Then place the dry soil upon coal shovel on hot coals or in very hot oven. The humus in the sou will iiuoke and burn. Good

) soils should shrink considerably. The sand, c silt, and clay may then be separated. Take s a large bottle, two to four quarts, put in t burned soil, and nil with water, and shake r vigorously. Place on table and allow to settle. The coarse sand .will settle first, I then the medium and fine sand, while the I silt and clay will remain in suspension for ► several days. When all is deposited the i sand will be at the bottom, the silt next, ; and the clay on top. The manner of settling • and amounts of sediment one to , estimate roughly the proportional amounts of sand*- silt, and clay v It is better to take , a composite sample to test, i The character 'of a soil, its water-holding ; capacity, aeration, and relative fertility, are, ■ determined largely by the relative amounts of sand, silt, clay, and humus present. In i purchasing- a. farm or in adjusting some i s new crop to a- field it is often desirable to make some simple tests which will indicate in a general way the adaptability of the soil for the purpose intended.