CLOVER AS A PREPARATORY CROP FOR WHEAT. 473 



root-fibres ; and in the third section a 6-inch slice cut down at a 



depth of 12 inches from the surface, no distinct fibres could be 



found. The soil was almost completely saturated with rain when 



it was dug up on the 13th of September, 1866 : 



lbs. 



The upper 6 inches of soil 1 foot square weighed 60 



The second 6 " " " " 61 



The third G " " " " G3 



These three portions of one foot of soil, 18 inches deep, were 

 dried nearly completely, and weighed again ; when the first six 

 inches weighed 51^ pounds; thfe second six inches, 51 lbs. 5 oz.; 

 and the third section, 54 lbs. 2 oz. 



The first six inches contained three pounds of siliceous stones 

 (flints), which were rejected in preparing a sample for analysis ; 

 in the two remaining sections there were no large-sized stones. 

 The soils were pounded down and passed through a wire sieve. 



The three layers of soil, dried and reduced to powder, were 

 mixed together, and a prepared average sample, when submitted 

 to analysis, yielded the following results : 



Composition of Clover Soil, 18 inches deep, from part of 11-acre 



field twice moivn for hay. 



Soluble in Hydrochloric Acid. 



Organic matter 5.86 



Oxides of iron 6.83 



Alumina 7.12 



Carbonate of lime 2.13 



Magnesia 2 01 



Potash 67 



Soda 08 



Chloride of sodium 02 



Phosphoric acid 18 



Sulphuric acid 17 



Insoluble in Acid. 



Insoluble siliceous matter 74.61 



Consisting, of : — Alumina 4.37 



Lime (in a state of silicate) 4.07 



• Magnesia 46 



Potash 19 



Soda 23 



Silica 65.29 



99.68 



This soil, it will be seen, contained in appreciable quantities 

 not only potash and phosphoric acid, but all the elements of fer- 

 tility which enter into the composition of good arable land. It 



