273   His meteorological journal containing twenty-six years of weather records was published by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C. in 1860 (4). A scholarly, independent, and somewhat eccentric man, Smith was an example of that desire to make a contribution to the development of our young nation that manifest itself in many noteworthy citizens of the early nineteenth century.   The Farmers' Register was at that time the foremost agricultural journal of the south. It's editor, Edmund Ruffin of Virginia, enjoyed a wide reputation as a leader in applying scientific principles to agriculture (5). Smith's article was in answer to the editor's request for information on soils of the south and west. Although he claimed no "pretension to science" and made conclusions "without chemical tests," Smith was obviously familiar with geological and chemical terms. Like most medical students of the time, he probably took courses in geology and chemistry. His article certainly exhibited the precision of a scientist.   Smith's article is reproduced verbatim below. Interestingly, he (or the editor) used the spelling "Arkansa" tluoughout the article.   SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PRARIE SOILS OF ARKANSA.   To the Editor of the Farmers' Register.   Hempstead Ark. Ter. June 27,1835   The May No. of your valueble [sic] journal being received, my attention was attracted by "Statements of the constituent parts of soils of the prairies of Alabama," and more particularly fixed by the editorial remarks soliciting information of the subject of prairies in general. _______________ 4. Nathan D. Smith, Meteorological Observations near Washington, Arkansas, 1849-59, Smithsonian Contribution to Knowlcdge, XII (Washington, D. C., 1860). 5. Albert L. Demaree, The American Agricultural Press,1819-1860 (New York, 1941), 15,361.           Contents  Words  Study Questions  Related Sites Next Page