150 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



soil, much plant food is set free for the use of succeeding crops, and the carbonic acid, 

 liberated as a product of its decay, acts as a solvent (in the presence of water) in a very- 

 marked degree upon the inorganic constituents of the soil ; by its nitrification, nitrates 

 — the form in which plants take up their nitrogen — are produced ; and, lastly, by its 

 presence, the physical condition of the soil, as regards temperature and retentivity of 

 moisture, is improved. 



In Nitrogen this soil is particularly rich, containing almost 1*0 per cent, or nearly 

 34,000 pounds per acre, estimating the weight of an acre of soil to the depth of one foot 

 to be 3,500,000 pounds. Ordinary fertile soils possess from *2 per cent to -5 per 

 cent of nitrogen, and many which produce paying crops, contain indeed less than -2 per 

 «ent of this valuable element. The physical condition of this soil is such that nitrifica- 

 tion would proceed satisfactorily, granted that the climatic influences are favourable. 



In Potash and Phosphoric Acid this soil is well supplied ; in this respect comparing 

 most favourably with soils of great productiveness. 



Nitrogen. Potash and Phosphoric Acid are known as the essential elements of plant 

 food, since successive croppings without a concomitant return of fertilizing material 

 exhaust a soil, more particularly of these three important and costly substances. 



Lime. — Many agricultural chemists consider as deficient in lime, soils containing less 

 than one per cent. It would therefore prove in all probability, advantageous to dress- 

 this soil with lime or marl. Such an application would not only provide plant food and 

 assist in the nitrification of the organic matter, but would correct the slight sourness 

 which now exists. With regard to the latter character, viz., acidity, it may be remarked 

 that it is due to the circumstances accompanying the formation of the soil. I am of 

 the opinion that it is not strong enough to materially affect vegetation. All traces 

 of sourness will quickly disappear with culture and aeration, and more quickly still 

 if lime or marl be applied. 



This is an alluvial deposit, composed of the detritus brought down by the Pitt 

 River. Such soils are usually very rich and fertile, and there is no reason to suppose 

 that this one will prove an exception. We have seen that, physically and chemically, 

 this soil ranks with the best ; its excellent qualities of tilth and richness of composition 

 are undoubtedly owing to the peculiarly favourable circumstances attendant upon its 

 formation and deposition. 



MANITOBA. 



No. 3.— VIRGIN PRAIRIE SOIL. 



This sample was obtained from section 31, township 4, range 1 west, and sent to 

 representing the unfertilized and uncropped prairie soil of the Red River valley 

 for many m#es around." 



This surface soil, which is fairly uniform throughout its depth, averages a little 

 over two feet in thickness and mixes very gradually with the subsoil, which is blue 

 clay. The latter, as tested by boring, extends to a depth of at least 250 feet. 



This soil is a deep black loam, of a fine and peculiarly characteristic granular order. 

 It reduces easily in the air-dried condition to a grayish brown powder. Though there 

 is present a considerable amount of undecomposed root fibre, the soil proper presents a 

 remarkable homogeneity in appearance, indicating a process of physical refining in its 

 formation and a uniformity in its chemical composition. Its appearance and physical 

 condition, as well as its fertility, considered from a chemical standpoint, are no doubt due 

 to the very intimate incorporation of the large amount of organic matter this soil pos- 

 sesses, with the clay and sand which constitute the basis of the soil. 



On moistening the soil, it does not " puddle " nor become plastic, though it contains 

 a considerable amount of clay ; nor does it subsequently dry into a hard or " cakey " 

 mass, which would exclude air and prevent free root development. On the evaporation 

 of the water, the soil easily powders or rather granulates, thus evincing its extreme 

 friability. 



