Analysis of Texas Sugar Soils, Etc. [pp. 553-557]

ANALYSIS OF TEXAS SUGAR SOILS.
their place. Hence the exclusion of relatives in those degrees is not
only not presumptive evidence of insanity, but, as the Roman law bid the
presumption, which it raised in other cases, here cease, rather according to the reasoning of that law, a quasi presumptive evidence of
sanity.
When, in addition, the estate is diverted frorm relatives in those degrees for the purpose of manumitting slaves, the presumption of sanity
is strengthened, for the Roman law considered, as I have before in
substance said, such a will to be of itself so sane as'o destroy the
presumption of insanity which was feigned to sustain the querela inoficiosi- it contained on its face, so to say, so strong a presumption of
sanity, that the fiction on which the querela was based, had to ied tc,
it,
Art. XI.-ANALYSIS OF TEXAS SUGAR SOILS, ET(.
MODES OF ANALYSIS, TESTS OF SOIL, ETC.
NEW ORLEANS, June 4, 1447.
J. D. B. DE Bow, Esq., Dear Sir:-In reply to your note of the 5th ult., accompanying
three specimens of soil from the plantation of Gen. Hamilton, ill Brazoria county, Texas, I stated that in consequence of so much of my
time being occupied in official duties, it would be impossible for me to
make a complete and careful analysis, but that I would make such a
partial examination as would enable you to form a tolerably correct
general opinion of the soil.
Sir Humphrey Davy says:
"It is of importance tlhat the specific gravity of a soil be known, as it affords ail
indication of the quantity of animal and vegetable matter that it contains; these
substances being always most abundant in the lighter soils." (See Bralnde Chem-.
istry.)
I found the specific gravity of the Cane soil, No. 1, to be 2.235, of
the Peach soil, No. 2, to be 2.110, and of the Elm soil, No. 3, to be
2.190. According to Sir IH. Davy's rule, No. 2 should contain most
organized matter; and No. 3 more than No. 1.
The next indication of the fertility of a soil is taken from the quantity of Hygrometric water which it contains. OnI this subject Davy
observes:
" The loss of weight in the process should be carefully noticed, and when in 400
grains of soil it reaches as high as 50, the soil may he considered as in the greatet
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