152 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



ONTARIO. 

 No. 4.— SOIL FROM NEAR PORT ARTHUR 



This is a sample of virgin soil from the farm of Mr. Wm. Wilson on the Mac- 

 Intyre River near the Red River Road, about six miles west from Port Arthur, and 

 registered as north 100 acres of Lot 24, White's survey, township of Maclntyre. 



It is said to be fairly representative of the soil within a radius of five miles, 

 though the land is reported as being somewhat heavier on the whole in the Township of 

 Oliver, five or six miles west of the farm from which this specimen was taken. The 

 land originally was heavily timbered, but was burnt over some twenty-five years ago, 

 and is now covered with poplar, birch, spruce and tamarack from ten to twenty feet 

 high. Oats, clover and root crops generally are reported by Mr. Wilson to give ex- 

 cellent yields. 



It is a grayish red, sandy soil of very fine tilth and is free from lumps. 



In the essential elements of plant food, viz., nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash, 

 it cannot be considered a rich soil, though under proper tillage and favourable climatic 

 influences, good returns may be expected. The percentages of these constituents lie 

 within the limits set for good agricultural soils, but do not equal those of our more fer- 

 tile soils. Owing to its physical character, it is a warm soil, and one that would in 

 favourable seasons give an immediate and excellent response to the application of man- 

 ure. From its light and sandy nature, however, it would be apt to leach readily, 

 teaching the economy of frequent and light applications of soluble fertilizers, if such 

 are employed, rather than heavier dressings at longer intervals. Perhaps its greatest 

 deficiency is in humus. To improve it in this respect, the turning under of green crops, 

 (preferably clover or pease, for such enrich the soil by nitrogen taken from the atmos- 

 phere), the application of farm-yard manure and of swamp muck (after composting, if 

 feasible), are to be recommended. By such means, not only could the percentages of or- 

 ganic matter and nitrogen be increased, but the tilth would be vastly benefited, since 

 thereby the soil becomes more retentive of moisture and fertilizing ingredients. Organic 

 matter (humus) in a soil has many functions. In its decomposition, carbonic acid is set 

 free, which in turn tends to liberate mineral plant food from the rock-remains in the 

 soil. In this and many other ways does humus act beneficially, and perhaps the most 

 economical way for the new settler to supply it, is by the ploughing under of a green 

 crop. An application of lime or marl, with the muck or other organic manure would 

 enhance the fertility of this soil, for though not very poor in lime, an addition of such 

 fertilizers would assist in rendering other plant food assimilable and the soil more suit- 

 able for the growth of cereals. 



If artificial manures are employed, they should be first tried on small areas. Those 

 of a soluble nature, as nitrate of soda and kainit, should be applied as a top dress- 

 ing in the spring ; in this way their effect will be more marked. Since wood ashes can 

 easily be procured, a mixture of them with ground bone might prove as cheap and 

 effective a fertilizer as could be recommended. 



Nos. 5 and 6.— SOILS FROM MUSKOKA. 



These soils are from the farm of Wm. Stalker, lot 14, concession 10, Brunei town- 

 ship, Muskoka, and constitute the eighth and ninth in a series of virgin soils from 

 that district that are being investigated by us. Former reports contain analyses, and 

 deductions therefrom, of those previously examined. 



The country in which this sample was taken is well wooded with birch, maple, bass, 

 hemlock and elm. 



The surface soil is of a light gray colour, and varies from eight to twelve inches in 

 depth. It differs from the preceding members of the series in being a clay loam, all 

 the others having been light in character. It may be termed a strong soil and one 



