REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 53 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Experience and observation have led us to conclude that inoculation is not so 

 generally necessary as is claimed by some authorities. If we may judge from the 

 occurrence of nodules, it is certain that the nitrogen-fixing bacteria are by no means 

 restricted to small or isolated areas. In the eastern provinces and in Ontario and 

 British Columbia, at all events, we believe that failures to obtain a good catch of 

 clover have been due rather to deficiency of moisture, poverty in humus, sourness, 

 insufficient drainage or an unsuitable mechanical condition of the soil, than to the 

 absence of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 



CONSERVATION OF SOIL MOISTURE. 



Concurrently with much of the experimental work in connection with the value 

 of legumes for soil enrichment, the effect of various methods of cultivation upon the 

 soil's moisture content has been ascertained. The determinations have been carried 

 on with several classes of soil and under various conditions of season on the Experi- 

 mental Farms, Ottawa, Ont. ; Nappan, N.S.; Brandon, Man.; and Indian Head, Sask. 

 The experiifients in the North-west demonstrated the value of summer-fallowing in 

 conserving moisture for the succeeding crop, and those conducted in Ontario a^f^ the 

 eastern provinces have given data of particular value for the management of orchard 

 soils. 



NATURALLY-OCCURRING FERTILIZERS. 



The reports of this Division abound in analyses of muck, marls, river and tidal 

 deposits, sea-weed, and many other materials of fertilizing yalue found in various 

 parts of Canada. The information furnished with regard to their value and rational 

 uses has, we believe, assisted many farmers in the economical improvement of their 

 land. 



PRESERVATION OF BARNYARD MANURE. 



We have undertaken to estimate the losses that follow upon various methods of 

 preserving manure, under summer and winter conditions respectively. These losses 

 may arise from two causes, fermentation — which means destruction of organic matter 

 and dissipation of nitrogen — and leaching, whereby the stores of soluble plant food, 

 both organic and mineral, are materially lessened by drainage. 



The details of the first series of experiments were published in the report of this 

 Division for 1898 and in Bulletin No. 31. The extent of the loss was found to be 

 dependent upon the conditions of rotting the manure and the degree and the length 

 of time in rotting. Undoubtedly, if manure cannot be put while fresh into the soil 

 the ideal arrangement is to keep it in a moist, compact pile, protected from rain. 

 Thus, in an open shed, mixed horse and cow manure, lost during three months exposure 

 60 per cent of its total organic matter (humus-forming material), 30 per cent of its 

 total nitrogen, and 22 per cent of its total potash, and 8 i)er cent of its total phosphoric 

 acid. Similar manure, but protected by being kept in a roofed shed, lost during the 

 same period 50 per cent of its total organic matter and 15 per cent of its total nitrogen, 

 the phosphoric acid and potash suffering no loss, as there was no leaching. Though for 

 certain specific purposes rotted manure has undoubtedly advantages over fresh manure, 

 it must be pointed out that for general farm purposes the losses in rotting outweigh 

 the benefits therefrom. The safest storehouse for manure is the soil, and we, there- 

 fore, unhesitatingly say that the farmer who gets his manure while still fresh into 

 the soil returns to it for the future use of his crops much more plant food than he 



