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INTERPRETING
SOIL TEST RESULTS
WHAT DO ALL THE NUMBERS MEAN?
THIRD EDITION
pH 4.70
SAR 8
Ca2+
Na+
15%
cmol(+)/kg
SAR 8
pH 4.70
Ca2+ Na+
15%
cmol(+)/kg
PBC
ppm
At the University of Adelaide (and I imagine it is the same at all Australian universities) we
get regular requests from students and others (mainly advisers and consultants in soil
management) for advice on how to interpret soils data. Typically we get inquiries about
soil-test results from fertiliser companies, engineering reports on clay reactivity, heavy-
metal concentrations in municipal waste products, bore and dam water analyses, soil water
contents and hydraulic conductivities. The units accompanying such data invariably
appear as a dog’s breakfast of the Systeme International mixed with colloquial names
dating back to the early 20th century (e.g. bags, bushels, quintals, milliequivalents, etc).
Naturally, people ask whether a good Australian textbook exists ‘to guide us through the
minefield of numbers we face out there’. Well, here it is – a friendly book containing
exemplar tables and units with plenty of explanatory text to guide you through the
quagmire of colloquial terms in soil science that we need to extricate ourselves from. The
omnibus reference-text falls between a classical methods manual and a book of results
with typical generalisations to be drawn from them. It gives users of soil data some yard-
sticks against which the significance or importance of the numbers they obtain in standard
soil tests can be assessed. For many users of Australian soils data this book will come as a
lifeline, and we will certainly add it to the reading lists for our students.
v
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Contents
Foreword v
About the Authors ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xii
Introduction xiii
vii
viii Interpreting Soil Test Results
Dr Pam Hazelton has worked as a soil scientist for over 35 years. She graduated in Science
from the University of Sydney, then gained a Diploma of Education from the University of
New England and a PhD from the University of NSW for her research on the morphology
and genesis of scald soils in arid regions. She is an experienced pedologist, having produced
many of the Western Division Land System maps and soil landscape maps in the south-
eastern areas of New South Wales. In recent years her interests have been in urban and
coastal soils with an emphasis on environmental engineering. She lectures in the Faculty
of Engineering and IT in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Uni-
versity of Technology Sydney and is a visiting lecturer at the Grand Ecole EPF School of
Engineers, Sceaux, France.
Dr Brian Murphy has worked as a soil scientist for over 30 years with a strong focus on
applied soil science. He graduated in Agricultural Science from the University of Sydney in
1973, and obtained his Masters in 1986 and his PhD in 1999 for his work on soil structure
in cropping systems. As a practising soil scientist Dr Murphy has had a strong focus on the
application of soil science to urban land use, agriculture, carbon sequestration, hydrology
and salinity. He is an experienced pedologist (having produced several soil maps) and an
experienced researcher with numerous published scientific papers, and provides day-to-
day advice on the management of soils for a range of natural resource issues. He has also
been an editor of a successful, widely used textbook on the characterisation and manage-
ment of soils.
ix
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Preface
The first edition of this text, titled What do all the Numbers Mean?, was written specifi-
cally for officers in the then Soil Conservation Service of NSW. These advisory officers
were expected to interpret and provide advice on a wide variety of soil management issues
that occurred in their areas. There was no comprehensive text available that could help
them with that task. In the second edition, Interpreting Soil Test Results: What Do All the
Numbers Mean?, the data in the original publication was reviewed and revised and addi-
tional test results were included that were more wide-reaching than in the first edition.
The text became, therefore, useful for a wider range of professionals from agriculturists to
engineers, highlighting the large volume and diversity of information needed by all profes-
sionals who endeavour to provide advice on natural resource management. In this third
edition the previous data has been revised and additional information has been included.
The interpretations and values in this text provide a general background on the type of
soil tests available and how the results from these tests may be interpreted. They are not
intended for specific advice on particular problems or issues. A reading list has been
included for those professionals who need further clarification when working in specific
subject areas.
Disclaimer
The interpretations of soil test results in this book are to be used as a general guide only.
They are not to be used in relation to any specific site. An individual site can only be
assessed following investigation and interpretation of the soil tests relating to that site. The
State of New South Wales, the NSW Department of Natural Resources and the University
of Technology Sydney, and their employees, officers, agents or servants, are not responsible
for the result of any actions taken on the basis of the information in this book, nor for any
errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this book. The State of New South Wales, the NSW
Department of Natural Resources and the University of Technology Sydney, and their
employees, officers, agents or servants, expressly disclaim all and any liability and respon-
sibility to any person in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done or
omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the
information in this book.
xi
Acknowledgments
The editors wish to thank: Dr Greg Bowman for proof-reading and helpful comments,
Dr Peter Bacon (Woodlots and Wetlands Pty Ltd), Chris Conoley (Environmental and
Earth Sciences), John Lawrie, Simon Leake (SELS Australia), Dr David McKenzie
(McKenzie Soil Management Pty Ltd) and Mark Stuckey (Environmental and Earth
Sciences) for their contributions and interest in the revision of this third edition.
xii
Introduction
Soils are a valuable resource and a critical component in many of the environmental and
economic issues facing society today. Understanding soil properties and soil behaviour
and interpreting soil data are especially relevant for many environmental and land manage-
ment issues facing the community. These issues include urban development, control of
salinity, clearing of native vegetation, prevention of land degradation, control of water and
wind erosion, irrigation development, the management of effluent disposal, contamina-
tion and the management of acid sulfate soils.
Soil science, a specialised field, can be complex. When writing or examining land
assessment or environment reports, it is often difficult and time-consuming to find inter-
pretation of the soil data. These guidelines were compiled to assist in overcoming this
problem and are designed for workers in all categories of land use management. The infor-
mation in this book was collated from a wide range of reference material.
The interpretations and values provided in this text are not intended for specific advice
on particular problems or issues, but provide a general background on the soil tests available
and how the results from these tests maybe interpreted. The information provided in this
text is not intended to be used as a replacement for specific professional advice.
xiii
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1
1
2 Interpreting Soil Test Results
Table 1.1. Number of observations recommended for a published soil map given in number per km2
(1000 m × 1000 m) unless otherwise specified
Minimum
Recommended range acceptable range
At density of At density of At density of
1 observation 0.5 observations 0.25 observations
Scale per cm2 of map per cm2 of map per cm2 of map
1:5000 4/ha 2/ha 1/ha
1:10 000 1/ha 0.50/ha 0.25/ha
1:25 000 16 8 4
1:50 000 4 2 1
1:100 000 1 0.5 0.25
1:250 000 0.16 0.08 0.04
1:500 000 0.04 0.02 0.01
Source: Reid (1988) and see Schoknecht et al. (2008).
6 Interpreting Soil Test Results
Table 1.2. Soil map types based on scale and sampling intensity
Intensity Sampling
level Description Scale density Purpose
Very high Intensive 1:2500 >4 per ha Site planning,
engineering, precision
agriculture
High Intensive 1:10 000 0.8–4 per ha Intensive agriculture,
urban land, engineering
works
Moderately Detailed 1:25 000 4–20 per km2 Field/paddock scale
high planning, detailed project
planning
Moderate Detailed 1:50 000 1–5 per km2 Farm level planning,
district level planning
Low Semi-detailed 1:100 000 0.25–1 per km2 Extensive land use,
project feasibility, district
level planning, land
inventory
Very low Reconnaissance 1:250 000 <1 per km2 National land inventory,
regional planning,
extensive land use
Source: Adapted from Rossiter (2000) and Gallant et al. (2008).
Table 1.4. Soil survey effort as minimum number of days in the field for different scales
Time taken to develop map
Man field days for a
Scale and source Man field days/km2 100 km × 100 km region
1:10 000 detailed mapping
Dent and Young (1981) 13.5 135 000
Gunn et al. (1988) 13.5 135 000
Schoknecht et al. (2008) 2.5 25 000
1:25 000 semi-detailed mapping
Dent and Young (1981) 3.2 32 000
Gunn et al. (1988) 3.2 32 000
Schoknecht et al. (2008) 0.48 4800
1:50 000 semi-detailed mapping
Dent and Young (1981) 1.1 11 000
Gunn et al. (1988) 1.078 10 800
Schoknecht et al. (2008) 0.16 1600
1:250 000 reconnaissance mapping
Dent and Young (1981) 0.1 1000
Gunn et al. (1988) 0.086 860
Schoknecht et al. (2008) 0.053 530
1:500 000 reconnaissance/overview
Dent and Young (1981) na na
Gunn et al. (1988) 0.029 290
Schoknecht et al. (2008) 0.01 100
1.5.2 Sampling density and frequency for mapping acid sulfate soil
The number of soil sampling locations required will depend on the nature, depth and
size of the disturbance proposed. Determination of the sampling strategy will depend on
the future land use and development stages (DSE 2010; Tulau 2007; Dear et al. 2014).
The number of sampling points needs to be sufficient to generate a detailed map of soil
net acidity and stratigraphy at a better than 1:10 000 scale, which is considered adequate to
accurately and efficiently plan engineering works and manage the disturbance of acid
sulfate soil (DSE 2010; Tulau 2007; Dear et al. 2014).
Landscape soil is an anthropic soil profile that is modified from a natural ‘in situ’ soil
or manufactured and installed using artificial components for the purpose of
sustaining vegetation chosen for landscape design or land rehabilitation (Leake and
Haege 2014).
Clear specifications are needed for the most common types of soil investigations, soil
reconstruction processes and constructed soil specifications used in landscape design
projects. Soil management guidelines also need to be established for the implementation of
the design and its long-term success. These specifications and guidelines are summarised
in Table 1.5.
Table 1.5. Common soil types and construction management used in landscape design projects
Specification
(number and title) Description Application
Part I The use of soil survey in land Where site soil is present
Site investigation/ development projects
analysis
Part II Specifications for soil stripping Where site topsoil and/or subsoil
Preparatory works and stockpiling and preparation is available
of subsoils and subgrades
Part III A list of 13 landscaping soils and Target values for soil preparation
Performance their target ‘performance’
specifications specifications
1 – Soil sampling issues: aspects of design and implementation of soil investigations 9
Specification
(number and title) Description Application
C Soils for turf and lawns Example of landscape
C1 Passive amenity turf Low-level commercial and Residential lawn, low-use park
domestic turfing grass
C2 Active high-traffic Moderate public open space and General parks and general sports
turf high-traffic turfed areas fields
C3 Sports field turf Moderate to high-traffic natural High-use sports fields and parks
turf sportsfields
D Soils for gardens and mass planting
D1 Mass planting soil Low-maintenance plantings and Roadside planting, naturalistic
environmental restoration revegetation
D2 Garden bed Soil properties for moderate- General garden beds
planting soil fertility perennial gardens
D3 Display bed soil High-fertility display, annual Vegetable garden beds, annual
bedding and vegetable soil displays
D4 Advanced tree and A two-layered topsoil/subsoil Trees in street verges and
vault soils system for planting of specimen medians, trees with restricted
trees in urbanised spaces root zones
E On slab media
E1 On slab soil media A Artificial soil media ‘topsoil’ in Topsoil for containers, pots,
horizon containers and on-slab rooftop and on-slab
E2 On slab soil media B Artificial soil media ‘subsoil’ in Subsoil for containers, pots,
horizon containers and on-slab rooftop and on-slab
E3 Low-density Artificial container soil media Rooftop or on-slab gardens and
container and roof where weight restrictions apply containers
F Specialist soils
F1 Structural support Modified CU Soil™* system of Under pavement or road in
soils (SSS) aggregate-based soil for tree built-up urban hard-surfaced
planting in hard-scapes areas
F2 Rain-gardens and Soil media for stormwater Planting in swale areas,
stormwater filtration filtration systems according to landscape filtration or rain-
soils the FAWB (2009) and derivatives garden landscapes
Part IV Compliance validation and
Validation certification quality control
specifications
* CU-Structural Soil™ (also known as CU-Soil™) developed at Cornell University as a way to safely bear pavement loads
after compaction yet still allow root penetration and vigorous tree growth. It was patented and trademarked under the
name CU-Soil™ to ensure quality control.
Note that with each of the specifications in Part III acidic or alkaline variants can be chosen to adapt the soil to the cho-
sen vegetation type. For the garden and container soils, a low P variant can be chosen for planting schemes containing
phosphorus-sensitive plants.
Source: After Leake and Haege (2014, ch. 6); FAWB (2009).
Another major consideration for landscape designers and ecological planners is under-
standing the soil requirements of different vegetation types. Table 1.6 summarises the
10 Interpreting Soil Test Results
most important soil properties that vegetation planners must consider when planning
revegetation or specifying soil types.
Soil physical fertility or soil structure can have as large an impact on plant growth as
chemical fertility, as well as on the capability of the soil to resist degradation from proc-
esses such as compaction, surface sealing and erosion under land management. Several
suggested critical values for soil physical properties are presented in this section, but
further discussion of soil physical fertility and soil structure is presented in Cass (1999)
and Geeves et al. (2007a)
Particle Size (mm) Size (µm) (10 −6 m) Likely surface area m2/gm*
Clay <0.002 2 5–750
Silt 0.002–0.02 2–20 1.0
Fine sand 0.02–0.2 20–200 0.1
Coarse sand 0.2–2 200–2000 0.01
Fine gravel 2–6 2000–6000 <0.01
Coarse gravel >6 >6000 <<0.01
This particle size scale is equivalent to the International Scale for particle size description.
Note that in the US system, silt is defined as 0.02–0.05 mm and fine sand as 0.05–0.20 mm.
* Data from McKenzie et al. (2004).
11
12 Interpreting Soil Test Results
Percentage of particle (e.g. clay, sand or silt) Description of size fraction or particle in soil
<10 Very low
10–25 Low
25–40 Moderate
40–50 High
>50 Very high
Examples: <10% clay = very low level of clay; >50% silt = very high level of silt.
100
Key
symbol Texture
90
C Clay
S Sand
80 Z Silt
L Loam
ZC Silty clay
70 ZCL Silty clay loam
ZL Silty loam
CL Clay loam
60 LS Loamy sand
SC Sandy clay
Clay (%)
40 SC
ZCL
30 CL
SCL
20
L
ZL SL
10
LS
S
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Sand (%)
Figure 2.1. Soil texture triangle (adapted from University of Sydney 1991). This triangle is
effectively equivalent to that in McDonald et al. (1994) but is easier to use because there are only
two variables. This simplification is possible because clay + silt + sand always add to 100%. For
example, 20% clay and 67% sand will give a loam texture. The textures based on this triangle
approximate those in McDonald et al. (1994).
To estimate field texture grade from laboratory measurements:
Step 1. Add fine and coarse sand fraction.
Step 2. Construct a line at right angles to % sand line (% sand).
Step 3. Construct a line at right angles to % clay line (% clay).
Step 4. The point where the lines intersect gives the approximate texture group.
2 – Soil physical properties 13
There are several interpretations of the relationship between field texture and estimated
clay content. An interpretation suggested by Northcote (1979) is shown in Table 2.3 and a
more recent one suggested by McDonald et al. (1994) is shown in Table 2.4. Where sand is
recorded in a texture the dominant sand size is defined as ‘fine’ when it is in the size range
0.02–0.20 mm, or ‘coarse’ when it is in the size range 0.2–2.0 mm. Coarse sand grains are
visible with the naked eye in the soil sample. Fine sand is not visible with the naked eye
and its presence is detected by feel and a grinding sound when texturing the soil.
Table 2.3. Estimated contents of different soil components based on field texture
Texture group Texture grade Estimated clay content (%)
1. Sands Sand <10 and commonly <5
Loamy sand 5–10
Clayey sand 5–10
2. Sandy loams Sandy loam 10–15
Fine sandy loam 10–20
Light sandy clay loam 15–20
3. Loams Loam ~25
Fine sandy loam ~25
Silt loam ~25, with >25% silt
Sandy clay loam 20–30
4. Clay loams Clay loam 30–35
Silty clay loam 30–35, with >25% silt
Fine sandy clay loam 30–35
5. Light clays Sandy clay 35–40
Silty clay 35–40, with >25% silt
Light clay 35–40
Light medium clay 40–45
6. Medium–heavy clays Medium clay 45–55
Heavy clay >50
Source: Northcote (1979).
Table 2.4. Estimated contents of different soil components based on field texture
Texture grade Estimated clay content (%)
Sand Commonly <5
Loamy sand ~5
Clayey sand 5–10
Sandy loam 10–20
Loam ~25
Silty loam ~25, with >25% silt
Sandy clay loam 20–30
Clay loam 30–35
Clay loam, sandy 30–35
Silty clay loam 30–35%, with >25% silt
Light clay 35–40
Light medium clay 40–45
Medium clay 45–55
Medium–heavy clay >50
Heavy clay >50
Source: McDonald et al. (1994).
14 Interpreting Soil Test Results
Density of water = 1.00 g/cm3 between 0 °C and 32 °C and 0.99 g/cm3 between 32 °C
and 40 °C.
Total volume of soil = volume of air-filled pores + volume of water + volume of soil
solids..........Eqn 2.3
This converts to depth of water per depth of soil for a unit area. It can be expressed as
centimetre of water per centimetre of soil or, more conveniently, millimetres of water per
centimetre of soil, or millimetres of water per metre of soil. Hence a volumetric moisture
content of 0.30 cm3 per cm3 of soil is equivalent to 3 mm of water depth per cm of soil over
an area of 1 cm2. This converts to 30 mm of water over a depth of 10 cm or is equivalent to
0.3 ML of water over 1 hectare. 1 ML will cover 1 hectare to a depth of 10 cm.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of H.P. Lovecraft,
an evaluation
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.
Language: English
by
MACABRE HOUSE
55 Trumbull St.
New Haven 10
Connecticut
Since the publication of my “H. P. Lovecraft: A Bibliography” (Biblio
Press, 1952), I have been repeatedly urged to write out my opinion
of Lovecraft’s work. I have been kept from doing so by the pressure
of a full-time library job, plus my own creative work in the diverse
fields of the horror story, the western story, and poetry, as well as the
semi-annual publication of ESSENCE and other time-consuming
activities such as an unending struggle against censorship groups
which are violating Constitutional rights on both a local and national
level.
The following brief essay is an admittedly hurried and incomplete
attempt to meet demands for a Lovecraft critique. An entire book,
requiring many months of uninterrupted work, could be devoted to
the project and I sincerely regret that circumstances do not permit
me to undertake such a task. But I hope that my comments, in spite
of their brevity, will be of some interest.
Nearly twenty years have passed since Lovecraft’s death, but,
unfortunately, a final evaluation of the man and of his work is still not
possible. His collected poems, though due to appear shortly, have
not yet been published. His letters, either selected or collected, have
not appeared. Probably some of the pieces which he contributed
under pseudonyms to “little” magazines have never been reprinted.
And of course no complete and carefully written biography of the
man has ever been published.
With the important exception of the poems and letters however, all
of Lovecraft’s work of any significance has been in print for some
years. It seems doubtful, therefore, that an evaluation of his work, at
this time, will be seriously qualified by future publication.
In his essay on Lovecraft, “Tales of the Marvellous and the
Ridiculous”, which originally appeared in “The New Yorker” and was
later reprinted in his book, “Classics and Commercials”, Edmund
Wilson states flatly: “Lovecraft was not a good writer.” (Before
Lovecraft admirers reach for their shotguns, I might point out that
Edmund Wilson also refers to no less a literary figure than Somerset
Maugham as “second-rate” and “a half-trashy novelist.”) Even
though his criticism is far too severe—too much of a generalization—
Wilson does call attention to two Lovecraft faults which I must
reluctantly acknowledge: his frequent prolixity and his tendency to
lean on shopworn adjectives such as “terrible”, “horrible”, “hellish”,
etc. to achieve eerie effects. In a good horror story, adjectives such
as this are best omitted or at least introduced very sparingly. Beyond
these criticisms, Wilson emphasizes the essential weakness and
lack of verisimilitude of the “Cthulhu Mythos” episodes. With this, too,
I must grudgingly agree. And at this point I would like to call attention
to the fact that the two specific faults mentioned immediately above
—prolixity and adjectivitus—are more frequently encountered in the
“Mythos” stories than in any others.
The “Cthulhu Mythos” has raised a great commotion. Over a
period of years, enthusiastic collaborators, imitators, friends and
admirers have elevated the Cthulhu myth to a pedestal of
importance which it scarcely deserves. The “Mythos” did indeed
become the frame for Lovecraft’s later tales, but they were not his
best tales. Lovecraft also amused himself by employing Cthulhu
terminology in some of his huge correspondence, but it now seems
doubtful that he attached as much importance to the “Mythos” as do
some of his disciples!
Many of the Cthulhu stories, such as “The Dunwich Horror” and
“The Whisperer in Darkness”, are actually tedious. They are too
long; our interest is apt to flag; our “willing suspension of disbelief”
may not hold to the final page. All too often we read on without
compulsion, without belief, without very much actual enthusiasm.
Lovecraft often seems so intent on introducing and exploiting the
“Mythos”, he loses sight of some of the basic elements which are
essential in a good short story: economy of wordage, verisimilitude,
mounting suspense sweeping to a single climax followed quickly by
the final denouement.
Referring to the “Mythos”, Edmund Wilson concluded: “It is all
more amusing in his letters than it is in the stories themselves.” Of
course it was not intended to be amusing in the stories, but I think
Wilson’s meaning is clear.
When it still possessed the freshness of novelty, the Cthulhu
Mythology afforded a vast amount of entertainment. But with the
passage of time the novelty has evaporated and the myth has
become threadbare. Lovecraft used it in story after story and his
disciples have exploited it since his death and it now seems wrung
nearly dry of interesting effects.
It remains, of course, an integral part of the bulk of Lovecraft’s
work. To attempt to dismiss it as incidental or unimportant would be
to close our eyes to the facts.
In my opinion however, Lovecraft’s future reputation as a writer of
fine horror stories will rest on a very few of his early tales in which
the Cthulhu Mythos is either entirely absent or at most still in its
formative stages in Lovecraft’s own mind. These early stories which I
mean to mention were published prior to the appearance of the first
generally accepted “Mythos” story: “The Call of Cthulhu” (WEIRD
TALES, February, 1928)
These stories are: “The Hound” (WEIRD TALES, February, 1924);
“The Rats in the Walls” (WEIRD TALES, March, 1924); “The Music of
Erich Zann” (WEIRD TALES, May, 1925); “The Outsider” (WEIRD
TALES, April, 1926); “Pickman’s Model” (WEIRD TALES, October,
1927)
Of these I think the best of all is “The Music of Erich Zann.” This
piece, which might have been written by Poe, has everything which
many of the “Mythos” tales lack: compression, sustained and rising
suspense culminating in a powerfully effective climax followed
almost immediately by the end of the story. Stylistically and
structurally, I think Lovecraft never surpassed it. I think it probable
that the old German mute will go on sawing his accursed viol in that
ghoul-infested garret long after great Cthulhu has lapsed into
silence! This story, like Poe’s masterpiece, “The Cask of
Amontillado”, seems literally above criticism. There are no wasted
words. The brief story unfolds with a remorseless inevitability.
Nothing could be omitted, nothing added, nothing changed which
would improve its quality. In its particular genre it remains a pure
masterpiece.
After “The Music of Erich Zann”, I would cite “The Rats in the
Walls.” Actually, I very nearly voted it first place because it achieves
a pitch of sheer grisly horror which exceeds the taut terror of “The
Music of Erich Zann.” On the other hand, it does not possess quite
the same degree of purity and compression. But it is a masterpiece
of its type, and again I can think of no Lovecraft story after “The
Music of Erich Zann” which equals it. As a matter of fact, one almost
feels that Lovecraft has gone too far in this particular story.
Something inside one rebels as the ghastly eldrich grottos reveal
their loathsome secrets. Perhaps it is simply that one instinctively
refuses to believe that homo sapiens could ever descend to such a
hellish sub-level. But this is a philosophical comment, not a criticism
of the story.
“The Rats in the Walls” begins in the somewhat leisurely manner
which has come to be associated with rather old-fashioned gothic
ghost stories, and for some little time nothing really hair-raising
happens. But once the full horror comes to light, it simply
overwhelms us. We see at once that the leisurely start was intended
to lull us a little. Certainly it kept us interested enough to continue,
and we did perhaps expect some pretty formidable horrors—but
nothing like what we finally encounter! For sheer inhuman horror
those twilit grottos under the evil foundations of Exham Priory have
yet to be surpassed.
In his introduction to “Best Supernatural Stories of H. P. Lovecraft”,
August Derleth states: “It has been said of “The Outsider” that if the
manuscript had been put forward as an unpublished tale by Edgar
Allan Poe, none would have challenged it.” Perhaps this is not
literally true, but I agree with the spirit of it. “The Outsider” is one of
Lovecraft’s finest stories. It possesses the merit of compression; with
rising intensity it achieves its single shuddery effect—and ends.
Some aspects of this story call to mind Poe’s “The Masque of the
Red Death”; both stories achieve their effects with a minimum of
wordage, both linger in the mind.
“Pickman’s Model” is one of Lovecraft’s strongest stories. It has
unity of effect, suspense, a highly original plot idea, and a climax
which neatly and forcefully ends the story. It is not quite as tightly knit
as “The Music of Erich Zann” or “The Outsider”, but it is still
Lovecraft writing at his top-level best. The “nameless blasphemy with
glaring red eyes” gnawing at a human head would probably feel at
home in one of those unspeakable grottos under the infamous walls
of Exham Priory!
I have mentioned Lovecraft’s “The Hound” because it has
remained in my mind after I first read it many years ago. Its structure
is somewhat slight and it does not have the power of Lovecraft’s very
best tales, but it has splendid atmosphere and, again, brevity and
unity of effect. It might have been written by the early Poe. But I cite
it primarily because it has lingered long in my mind.
The limitations of this little critique do not permit me to touch on
many other good Lovecraft stories. I have mentioned only five which
I think are the best. I am merely expressing a personal opinion—a
personal taste—and I am more than willing to admit of other opinions
—no matter how they may differ from my own. Time alone will decide
who is right!
I have not yet seen all of Lovecraft’s poetry, but I think I have seen
enough to comment briefly. Much of the poetry falls into two main
categories: deliberately archaic work imitative of eighteenth-century
verse, and a group of weird sonnets known as “Fungi from Yuggoth.”
The imitative verse is interesting and often competent, but I think the
“Fungi” sonnets are far more arresting and effective. A few of the
very best of them may survive.
Any criticism of Lovecraft’s work, no matter how brief, would be
incomplete if it omitted mention of his famous essay, “Supernatural
Horror in Literature.” Even Edmund Wilson concedes that the essay
is “a really able piece of work.” In my pamphlet, “H. P. Lovecraft: A
Bibliography”, I commented: “The background and evolution of the
horror tale—a “must” for anyone seriously interested in the genre.”
The comment still holds. Apart from the letters, I think it is probably
the finest piece of non-fiction which Lovecraft ever wrote.
Judging from the few letters and extracts from letters which are in
print, Lovecraft’s “Selected Letters” (or “Collected”) will definitely
enhance his reputation. It is probable that their publication will revive
and intensify interest in both the man and his work. Lovecraft’s
erudition, humor and style is such that it is even possible they will
eventually tend to eclipse his other work! At this point we can only
wait and see.
Lovecraft’s final place in American literature has not yet been
determined. It is too early for that. But it seems certain that the very
best of his work will endure, that it will remain important in the
particular field which he chose. If he did not reach the summits
attained by Poe, or Bierce, at his best he scaled some dizzy heights.
30
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