1^0. 112.] 877 



Soil No. 17, Adirondac, has laid in meadow since the land was 

 first cleared, nine years ago, and has never been manured. One 

 hundred parts, dried at 212^, gave of 



Organic matter, 25 . 12 



Silica, 55 .41 ' 



Alumina and iron, 17.22 



Manganese, , . . . 1 04 



Phosphoric acid, . 32 



Sulphuric acid, . 07 



Chlorine, 0.08 



Lime, 0.13 



Magnesia, . 0.06 



Potassa, 0.11 



Soda, 0.26 



99.82 



'' This soil," Prof. Salisbury remarks, " is quite peculiar. Its 

 analysis indicates, at present, a high degree of fertility. If crop- 

 ped for a few years, however, it will begin to show symptoms of 

 exhaustion, without any perceptible cause. Tiiat is, the crops 

 will gradually decrease, while, at the same time, the land will 

 appear to the eye quite as rich as ever. The bodies, which will 

 first be exhausted in the soil, are lime, magnesia, potassa, chlorine 

 and sulphuric acid. As these all occur in the ash of plants, and 

 as in this soil there is an abundance of organic matter present, 

 common hard wood ashes, will be the best and most economical 

 manure fjr it, for many years to come. Even now, its fertility 

 would be considerably increased by the yearly addition of small 

 quantities of this material." 



No. 18 is the same soil, in its primitive condition, witliout hav- 

 ing been sul)jected at afl to cultivation. Prof. Salisbury says, in 

 reference to this, " I have not anal}scd No. 18; it seems to the 

 eye to be coDsidera])ly richer in organic matter than No. 17." 



No. 20, is a sample of the soil embraced in the ledges of land 

 in Jay, described in tliis rej>ort. It is taken from the fiirm of 

 Daniel Jjlisli. " The general apj)carance of tliis soil is quite dif- 

 ferent from No. 17 ; it is much Itss adhesive, and has much less 



