HOME ANALYSIS OF SOIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 3

HOME ANALYSIS OF SOIL.

The amound of sand, silt, clay, and humus in a soil may easily be determined, says* the Hawkesbury Agricultural College Journal, by a simple chemical analysis, though not as exact as when made in tho laboratory. _ First examine the soil sample closely in the hand, then with a lense. Note the colour and look for dark particles of humus. Rub a portion between the fingers to determine the texture and size of particles,. If smooth it is mostly clay and. silt. Moisten a quantity and squeeze it hard. If it retains its shape after xeleasing pressure, tho soil contains much clay and silt, and must bo forked carefully; if friable it contains much humus and sand. A jnoro exact form of analysis is as follows:—Take a quart of moist soil as it comes from the field, screen out coarse particles and weigh carefully. Spread thin on pan, and place in oven or back of stove, and allow to dry. Weigh when dry, and calculate tho water content. Then place the dry soil upon a coal shovel on hot coals or in very hot oven. The humus in the soil will smoke ond burn. Good soils should shrink considerably. The sand, silt, and clay may then bo separated. Take a largo bottle, two to four quajts, put in burned 6oil, and fill with water', and shako vigorously. Place on table and allow to settle. The coarse sand will settlo first, then the medium and fine sand, while the silt and clay will remain in suspension for several days. "When all is reposited .tho sand will bo at the bottom, the silt next, and the clay on top. The manner of settling and amount of sadjment enable one to estimate roughly the proportional amounts of sand, silt, and clay. It is better to take a composite sample to test. The character of a soil, its waterholding capacity, aeration, and relative fertility, are determined largely by the relativo amounts of sand, silt, clay, and humus present. In purchasing a farm, or in adjusting some new rrop t oa field i tis often desirable to make some simple tests which will in--dicate in a general way the adaptabilitv of the soil for the purpose intended.