Chapter I: Preface: To Volume First

In this volume I have endeavored to place in the hands of teachers and students of Agricultural Analysis, and of analysts generally, the principles which underlie the science and art of the analysis of soils and the best approved methods of conducting it.

In the prosecution of the work I have drawn freely on the results of experience in all countries, but especially in the matter of the physical examinations of soils, of this country. Science is not delimited by geographic lines, but an author is not to be blamed in first considering favorably the work of the country in which he lives. It is only when he can see nothing of good outside of its own boundaries that he should be judged culpable. It has been my wish to give full credit to those from whose work the subject-matter of this volume has been largely taken. If, in any case, there has been neglect in this matter, it has not been due to any desire on my part to bear the honors which rightfully belong to another. With no wish to discriminate, where so many favors have been extended, especial acknowledgments should be made to Messrs. Hilgard, Osborne, Whitney, and Merrill, for assistance in reading the manuscript of chapters relating to the origin of soils, their physical properties, and mechanical analysis. With the wish that this volume may prove of benefit to the workers for whom it was written I offer it for their consideration.

H. W. WILEY.

WASHINGTON, D. C.,
Beginning of January, 1895.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST.

PART FIRST.

_Introduction_, pp. 1–27.—Definitions; Origin of soil; Chemical elements in the soil; Atomic masses; Properties of the elements; Relative abundance of the elements; Minerals occurring in rocks; Classification of minerals.

_Rocks and Rock Decay_, pp. 28–43.—Types of rocks; Microscopical Structure of Rocks; Composition of rocks; Color of rocks; Kinds of rocks; Eruptive rocks.

_Origin of Soils_, pp. 43–63.—Decay of rocks; Effect of latitude on decay; Action of water; Action of vegetable life; Action of worms and bacteria; Action of air; Classification of soils; Qualities and kinds of soils; Humus; Soil and subsoil; Authorities cited in part first.

PART SECOND.

_Taking Samples for Analysis_, pp. 65–86.—General principles; General directions for sampling; Method of Hilgard; Official French method; Caldwell’s, Wahnschaffe’s, Peligot’s, and Whitney’s methods; Samples for moisture; Samples for permeability; Samples for staple crops; Method of the Royal Agricultural Society; Method of Grandeau; Method of Official Agricultural Chemists; Method of Lawes; Instruments for taking samples; Principles of success in sampling.

_Treatment of Sample in the Laboratory_, pp. 87–93.—Preliminary examination; Treatment of loose soils; Treatment of compact soils; Miscellaneous methods; Authorities cited in part second.

PART THIRD.

_Physical Properties of Soils_, pp. 95–101.—The soil as a mass; Color of soils; Odoriferous matters in soils; Specific gravity; Apparent specific gravity.

_Relation of Soil to Heat_, pp. 102–103.—Sources of soil heat; Specific heat; Absorption of solar heat.

_Determination of Specific Heat_, pp. 104–110.—General principles; Method of Pfaundler; Variation of specific heat.

_Soil Thermometry_, pp. 111–115.—General principles; Frear’s method of stating results; Method of Whitney and Marvin.

_Applications of Soil Thermometry_, pp. 115–116.—Absorption of heat; Conductivity of soils for heat.

_Cohesion and Adhesion of Soils_, pp. 116–117.—Behavior of soil after wetting; Methods of determining cohesion and adhesion; Adhesion of soil to wood and iron.

_Absorption by Soils_, pp. 117–130.—General principles; Summary of data; Cause of absorption; Deductions of Warington, Way, and Armsby; Selective absorption of potash; Influence of surface area; Effect of removal of organic matters; Importance of soil absorption; Methods of determining absorption; Statement of results; Preparation of salts for absorption.

_Relations of Porosity to Soil Moisture_, pp. 131–150.—Definition of porosity; Influence of drainage; Capacity of soil for moisture; Determination of porosity; Whitney’s method; Relation of fine soil to moisture; Wolff’s and Wahnschaffe’s method; Petermann’s method; Mayer’s method; Volumetric determination; Wollny’s method; Heinrich’s method; Effect of pressure on water capacity; Coefficient of evaporation; Determination of capillary attraction; Inverse capillarity; Determination of coefficient of evaporation; Wolff’s method; Water given off in a water-free atmosphere; Porosity of soil for gases; Determination of permeability in the field.

_Movement of Water Through Soils: Lysimetry_, pp. 151–170.—Porosity in relation to water movement; Methods of water movement; Capillary movement of water; Causes of water movement; Surface tension of fertilizers; Methods of estimating surface tension; Preparation of soil extracts; Lysimetry; Relative rate of flow of water through soils; Measurement of rate of percolation; Authorities cited in part third.

PART FOURTH.

MECHANICAL ANALYSIS.

_The Flocculation of Soil Particles_, pp. 171–185.—Relation of flocculation to mechanical analysis; Effect of potential of surface particles; Destruction of floccules; Suspension of clay in water; effect of chemical action; Theory of Barus; Physical explanation of subsidence; Separation of soil into particles of standard size; Mechanical separation; Sifting with water.

_Separation of Soil Particles by a Liquid_, pp. 185–207.—Classification of methods of silt analysis; Methods depending on subsidence of soil particles; Methods of Kühn, Knop, Wolff, Moore, Bennigsen, and Gasparin; Method of Osborne; Schloesing’s method.

_Separation of Soil Particles by a Liquid in Motion_, pp. 207–247.—General principles; Nöbel’s Apparatus; Method of Dietrich; Method of Masure; Method of Schöne; Mayer’s method; Osborne-Schöne method; Statement of results; Berlin-Schöne method; Hilgard’s method; Colloidal clay; Properties of pure clay; Separation of fine sediments; Weighing sediments; Classification of results; Comparison of methods.

_Miscellaneous Determinations_, pp. 247–281.—Mechanical determination of clay; Effect of boiling on clay; General conclusions; Distribution of soil ingredients; Percentage of silt by classes; Interpretation of silt analysis; Number of soil particles; Surface area of soil particles; Logarithmic constants; Mineralogical examination of silt; Microscopical examination; Petrographic microscope; Forms and dimensions of particles; Silt classes; Crystal angles; Refractive index; Polarized light; Staining silt particles; Cleavage of soil particles; Microchemical examination of silt particles; Petrographic examination of silt particles; Separation of silt particles by specific gravity; Separation with a magnet; Color and transparency; Value of silt analyses; Authorities cited in part fourth.

PART FIFTH.

_Estimation of Gases in Soils_, pp. 282–300.—Carbon dioxid; Aqueous vapor; Maximum hygroscopic coefficient; Absorption of aqueous vapors; Oxygen and air; General method of determining absorption; Special methods; Diffusion of carbon dioxid; General conclusions; Authorities cited in part fifth.

PART SIXTH.

_Chemical Analysis of Soils_, pp. 301–342.—Preliminary considerations; Order of examination; Determination of water in soils; General conclusions; Estimation of organic matter in soils; Estimation of humus; Estimation of carbonates in arable soils.

_Digestion of Soils with Solvents_, pp. 342–352.—Treatment with water; With water saturated with carbon dioxid; With water containing ammonium chlorid; With water containing acetic acid; Treatment with citric acid; With hydrochloric acid; With nitric acid; With hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids.

_Determination of the Dissolved Matter_, pp. 352–367.—Methods of the Official Agricultural Chemists; Hilgard’s methods; Belgian methods; Bulk analysis.

_Special Methods of Soil Analysis_, pp. 367–428.—Determination of potash; Potash soluble in concentrated acids; Soluble in dilute acids; Estimation as platinochlorid; German Station methods; Raulin’s method; Russian method; Italian method; Smith’s method; International method; Dyer’s method; Estimation of total alkalies and alkaline earths; French method for lime; Estimation of actual calcium carbonate; Estimation of active calcareous matter; Russian method for lime; Assimilable lime; German lime method; Estimation of magnesia; Estimation of manganese; Estimation of iron; Estimation of phosphoric acid; Estimation of sulfuric acid; Estimation of chlorin; Estimation of silica; Simultaneous estimation of different elements; Estimation of kaolin in soils.

_Estimation of Nitrogen in Soils_, pp. 428–458.—Nature of nitrogenous principles; Method of Official Agricultural Chemists; Hilgard’s method; Moist combustion method of Müller; Soda-lime method; Treatment of soil containing nitrates; Volumetric method with copper oxid; Estimation of ammonia; Amid nitrogen; Volatile nitrogenous compounds; Late methods of the Official Agricultural Chemists; Authorities cited in part sixth.

PART SEVENTH.

_Oxidized Nitrogen in Soils_, pp. 459–496.—Organic nitrogen; Nitric and nitrous acids; Conditions of nitrification; Production of nitric and nitrous acids; Production of ammonia; Order of oxidation; Occurrence of nitrifying organisms; Nitrifying power of soils; Culture of nitrifying organisms; Isolation of nitrous and nitric ferments; Classification of nitrifying organisms; Sterilization; Thermostats for cultures; Conclusions.

_Determination of Nitric and Nitrous Acids in Soils_, pp. 496–531.—Classification of methods; Extraction of nitric acid; The nitric oxid process; Schloesing’s method; Warington’s method; Spiegel’s method; Schulze-Tiemann method; DeKoninck’s method; Schmitt’s process; Merits of the ferrous salt method; Mercury and sulfuric acid method; Lunge’s nitrometer; Utility of the method; The indigo method.

_Determination of Nitric Nitrogen by Reduction to Ammonia_, pp. 531–542.—Classification of methods; Method of the Official Agricultural Chemists; German method; Devarda’s method; Stoklassa’s process; Sievert’s variation; Variation of the sodium-amalgam process; Schmitt’s method; Process of Ulsch; Reduction by the electric current; Copper-zinc and aluminum-mercury couples.

_Iodometric Estimation of Nitric Acid_, pp. 543–548.—Method of DeKoninck and Nihoul; Method of Gooch and Gruener.

_Estimation of Nitric and Nitrous Acids by Colorimetric Comparison_, pp. 548–570.—Delicacy of the process; Hooker’s carbazol method; Phenylsulfuric acid method; Estimation of nitric in presence of nitrous acid; Metaphenylenediamin method for nitrous acid. Sulfanilic acid test; Naphthylamin process; Use of starch as indicator; Method of Chabrier; Ferrous salt method; Potassium ferrocyanid method; Collecting samples of rain water.

_Determination of Free and Albuminoid Ammonia_, pp. 570–575.—Nessler process; Ilosvay’s reagent; Authorities cited in part seventh.

PART EIGHTH.

_Special Examination of Waters_, pp. 576–583.—Total solid matter; Estimation of chlorin; Estimation of carbon dioxid; Boric acid.

_Special Treatment of Muck Soils_, pp. 583–591.—Sampling; Water content; Organic carbon and hydrogen; Total volatile matter; Estimation of sulfur; Estimation of phosphoric acid; Estimation of humus; Special study of soluble matters in muck.

_Unusual Constituents of Soil_, pp. 580–593.—Estimation of copper; Estimation of lead; Estimation of zinc; Estimation of boron; Authorities cited in part eighth. Index, pp. 594–607.

* * * * *

=CORRECTIONS.=—Page 112, second line from bottom, read “Fig. 14” instead of “13.”

Page 158, insert “and determining soluble matters therein” after “flow” in paragraph =172=, third line.

Page 468, paragraph =423=, read “calcium carbonate about 200 milligrams,” instead of “calcium carbonate, or gypsum fifty milligrams.”

Page 557, read “red-yellow” instead of “blue” in seventh line from bottom.

ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOLUME FIRST.

Page.

Plate, figures 1–6. To face 29

Figure 7. Microscopic structure of sandstone 36

„ 8. Microstructure of crystalline limestone 39

„ 9. Microstructure of Gneiss 40

Plate, figure 10. View on the broad branch of Rock Creek, 48
Washington, D. C., to face

Figure 11. 82

„ 12. 84

„ 13. Regnault’s apparatus for determining the specific heat 105
of soils

„ 14. Soil thermometer 113

„ 15. Zalomanoff’s apparatus for determining absorption of 126
salts by soils

„ 16. Müller’s apparatus to show absorption of salts by 127
soils

Plate, figure 17. Capacity of the fine soil for holding moisture. 136
Method of Wolff modified by Wahnschaffe, to face

Figure 18. Fuelling’s apparatus 140

„ 19. Apparatus to show capillary attraction of soils for 145
water

Plate, figure 20. Apparatus for determining coefficient of 148
evaporation, to face

Figure 21. Method of Heinrich 150

„ 22. Method of Welitschowsky 162

„ 23. Ground plan and vertical section of lysimeters and 166
vaults showing position of the apparatus

Plate, figure 24. Deherain’s apparatus for collecting drainage 168
water, to face

Figure 25. Knop’s silt cylinder 190

„ 26. Siphon cylinder for silt analysis 191

„ 27. Bennigsen’s silt flasks 195

„ 28. Nöbel’s elutriator 208

„ 29. Dietrich’s elutriator 209

„ 30. Masure’s silt apparatus 211

„ 31. Schöne’s elutriator 212

„ 32. Schöne’s elutriator outflow tube 213

„ 33. Schöne’s elutriator, arrangement of apparatus 214

„ 34. Schöne’s apparatus for silt analysis, modified by 221
Mayer

„ 35. Hilgard’s churn elutriator 226

„ 36. Improved Schöne’s apparatus with relay 228

„ 37. 257

Plate, figure 38. To
face
264

„ figures 39–44. „

„ figures 45–50. „

„ figures 51–56. „

Figure 57. Machine for making mineral sections 267

„ 58. Thoulet’s separating apparatus 272

„ 59. Harada’s apparatus 275

„ 60. Brögger’s apparatus 276

„ 61. Apparatus of Wülfing 277

„ 62. Schloesing’s soil-tube for collecting gases 291

„ 63. Schloesing’s apparatus for collecting gases from soil 292

„ 64. Schloesing’s apparatus for determination of carbon 293
dioxid

„ 65. Knorr’s apparatus for the determination of carbon 338
dioxid

„ 66. Bernard’s calcimeter 339

„ 67. Smith’s muffle for decomposition of silicates 381

„ 68. Apparatus by Sachsse and Becker 401

Plate, figures 69 and 70. To face 480

Figure 71. Sterilizing oven 491

„ 72. Autoclave sterilizer 492

„ 73. Arnold’s sterilizer 493

„ 74. Lautenschläger’s thermostat 494

„ 75. Schloesing’s apparatus for nitric acid 501

„ 76. Warington’s apparatus for nitric acid 505

„ 77. Spiegel’s apparatus for nitric acid 509

„ 78. Schulze-Tiemann’s nitric acid apparatus 511

„ 79. DeKoninck’s apparatus 514

„ 80. End of delivery-tube 514

„ 81. Schmidt’s apparatus 516

„ 82. Lunge’s nitrometer 519

„ 83. Lunge’s improved apparatus 521

„ 84. Lunge’s analytic apparatus 523

„ 85. Stoklassa’s nitric acid apparatus 535

„ 86. Variation of the sodium amalgam process 537

„ 87. McGowan’s apparatus for the iodometric estimation of 544
nitric acid

„ 88. Apparatus of Gooch and Gruener 547

„ 89. Method of Chabrier 566

„ 90. Schaeffer’s nitrous acid method 568

„ 91. Retort for distilling ammonia 572

„ 92. Gooch’s apparatus for boric acid 581

„ 93. Apparatus for determining sulfur 587

PART FIRST.